Big-Enough Anna: The Little Sled Dog Who Braved the Arctic ANNOTATION
Describes how a small dog became the lead dog as her musher, Pam Flowers, prepared for and made her historic journey alone across the North American Arctic.
FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature - Donna Freedman
Yet another underdog story, as it were, but this true tale breathes new life into the old "size isn't everything" saw. Anna is the runt of the litter, yet she becomes a vital member of the dog team that took the author on a 2,500-mile solo journey across the Arctic. It is a thrilling story that includes extreme weather, a lost dog and a break in the ice that threatens to drown the entire team. Through it all, Flowers never gives up on Anna, and her trust in the small dog is repaid a thousand fold. Children who are tired of being told they are too little to do much of anything will identify with the big-hearted title dog. Perhaps parents will take a lesson from Flowers, the musher, who knew that if you expect a lot from a youngster—even an especially small one—you will often get it. Illustrator Farnsworth is a wizard at depicting the blues, greens and grays of an Arctic landscape, and his dogs bristle with the energy and intelligence of the Alaska sled dog. 2003, Alaska Northwest Books, Ages 3 to 8.
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 3-A true story of how the runt of the litter became the leader of the pack. Flowers was preparing for a six-month, 2500-mile dogsled journey from Barrow, AK, to Repulse Bay, Canada, which would make her the first woman to cross the North American Arctic alone. Anna and her littermates trained with the older, more experienced dogs, with the intention that the strongest would accompany the expedition. Before attempting to pull a sled, the young canines were taught to follow voice commands; wear a harness; and drag twigs, sticks, and then small logs behind them. Though Anna was the smallest, she proved to have heart and a love of running; she was chosen for the trip. About halfway through the trek, the seasoned lead dog ran off; Anna took over and was instrumental in finishing the journey, which lasted almost twice as long as planned. Farnsworth's soft, sunlit oil paintings convey the cold and vast expanse of the northern climes while deftly depicting the action. White, brown, gray, and blue predominate in the attractive illustrations. Dog lovers will appreciate this real-life adventure tale starring a loyal and intrepid canine.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Home
