Customer Reviews

Running with the Big Dogs: A Sled Dog Puppy Grows Up in Denali National Park, Alaska

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had the good fortune of growing up with Lori Yanuchi in a little place called Allentown, PA. What I didnt know back then was her talent for writing and zest for the outdoors! My hat goes off to Lori for capturing the hearts of young children and the young at heart with this great book "Running with the Big Dogs"! My boys were entertained and educated about Alaska and are waiting impatiently for her next book.....no pressure Lori! This book is not a dust collector!

This book is a good introduction to the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race. The stories will inspire all ages to follow the race in March from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. All readers will gain an appreciation of the dedication and determination of both musher and sled dog. These titles will be used in an elementary school setting.

Well. For not having many books for children on the subject, this book does fill a gap. But as a librarian, I wouldn't use this book in a storytime. The story alone is alright, but the voice of the dog is very juvenile-- more than necessary. It feels dumbed down for children. The rhyming scheme/rhythm is very inconsistent and a little distracting.

The illustrations are corny and don't give any sense of urgency or weather. A story like this would be much better served by realistic interpretations. I understand communicating that the dogs want to run, but they are actually grinning in every single picture. I enjoy the formatting, with the gorgeous Frank Lloyd Wright-esque text boxes and the native flora and fauna on one page and the illustrations on the opposite.

I'm glad the author is trying to write books about a subject she very clearly loves. She gives a brief intro to how the sled teams are still used and how they are raised. This book could benefit from a more non-fiction point of view and more resources listed for children interested in learning more.

Also, to the reviewer who said it was a good book to get interested in the Iditarod, I have no idea how that could be. The Iditarod is not mentioned in the book, but rather how these sled teams are used to patrol for protection of wildlife.