The dogs, the cold, the ruggedly harsh terrain, and the grueling 1150-mile course all combine to make the Iditarod one of the most extraordinary tests of endurance. The roots of this annual race are found in the heroic efforts of a dog named Balto. This non-fiction picture book tells the story of how Balto, his sled team, and musher saved the people of Nome, Alaska by getting them the diphtheria medicine they needed in the middle of the a terrible blizzard in 1925. McCarthy doesn't sugar coat the journey: dogs died as temperatures fell to 50 below zero, and Balto was an inexperienced and slow dog. But against the odds, they made it to Nome and saved the town. Most stories about Balto end there, but McCarthy continues the tale. An overnight sensation, Balto toured the country as a celebrity. Sadly, after the hoopla died down, Balto and his team were sold to a sideshow. On display for anyone to see for a dime, the once-celebrated dog was suddenly nothing more than a commodity. A Cleveland businessman, angered by how the dog was being treated, started a campaign to raise funds to buy Balto. Thanks to thousands of people, including children who donated pennies, Balto was able to live out the rest of his life relaxing and playing in the Brookside Zoo. Colorful cartoonlike illustrations are lively and round out an amazing story. A map on the endpapers shows both the route for the serum run and the primary route for the Iditarod. The race is in early March, making this a great story for younger elementary children to read in advance.
Jeanette Larson is a children's literature specialist, retired librarian, and the author of Hummingbirds: Facts and Folklore from the Americas.
