Kuya Kai, the Adventures of an Alaskan Chow Puppy

by Janice Lawson

Overview

New updated version with full color photos and map!

Kuya Kai, a year old chow puppy, resident of Anchorage, Alaska, experiences adventures on the busy streets and wilderness trail systems of this northern metropolitan city. Confused by the family's move from the old house to the new house, Kuya and his dog cousin Kijik, a Husky mix breed, become separated from their humans. While Kijik is rescued early-on in the adventure, Kuya is not so fortunate and faces one life threatening challenge after another as he attempts to find his way eleven miles across Anchorage. This unique city, carved from a wilderness that still intertwines with shopping centers and suburbs, presents seemingly insurmountable obstacles, threats and adventures for any dog, especially one so young and inexperienced, but it is the path home if Kuya can puzzle out the intricacies of the many intersecting trails and survive the dangers and challenges he encounters on his odyssey.
Told from his own youthful point of view, "Kuya Kai" is a coming of age novel for early adolescent readers and adults, as well. A great "read aloud" adventure, the whole family will laugh at Kuya's innocent perceptions and cheer him on as, despite his injuries and fear, he discovers the strength and courage to find his way home to his beloved Cindy.
Go to Kuya Kai's Facebook page to see photos of Kuya Kai and Kijik both during the story and as they grow up. The online Facebook pictures can be used while reading the story to identify action from chapter to chapter.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940012564177
Publisher:	Janice Lawson
Publication date:	01/10/2011
Series:	Where Have You Been? , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	136
File size:	248 KB
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Janice Lawson lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, with her husband and best friend, Ed. Both are retired public school teachers of reading, writing, and adolescent fiction. Recently retired from teaching writing courses at Colorado Mesa University, Ms. Lawson has taught hundreds of students to love and improve their own writing.
A native born Alaskan herself, Ms. Lawson's daughter Jenna still lives in Anchorage with her dog, Kijik. At the time of the writing of "Kuya Kai", daughter Cindy lived there, as well. Her Kuya is a real dog, whose story is based on actual events, as reported by witnesses. The missing two and a half days were based on what could have happened, as he would have had to cross the wilderness park and orient himself through its maze of trails, in order to find his way home. Kuya and Cindy now live in Breckenridge, Colorado.
A published poet, Ms. Lawson also co-authored and published "The Grand County Heritage Cookbook," and works on an ongoing saga, "A Diary of Christmases", which will be published as soon as "a suitable ending presents itself". A sequel to "Kuya Kai", "On the Fly, Kijik and I", Book Two in the "Where Have You Been?" Series, " will be released later this year.