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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781943328550 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | TURNER PUB CO |
| Publication date: | 10/04/2016 |
| Pages: | 120 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.70(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.50(d) |
| Age Range: | 8 - 12 Years |
About the Author
Bill Farnsworth is a nationally known illustrator, painter, and educator of art. He has illustrated more than fifty books, including the beloved Kaya series for American Girl. Farnsworth previously collaborated with Pam Flowers on Big-Enough, Anna and Ellie’s Long Walk. Farnsworth’s children's books have won accolades such as the Teachers Choice Award, the 2005 Patricia Gallagher Award, and the 2007 Volunteer State Book Award. He currently lives with his wife in Venice, Florida. www.billfarnsworth.com
Read an Excerpt
I had never been away from home before and had no idea what was happening. To make matters worse, we were completely surrounded by barking dogs, all lunging at the ends of their chains! They were so loud; I could hardly hear myself think! Without moving my head I rolled my eyes and counted them. Yikes! There were seven of them! I had no idea there were so many dogs in the world. I was absolutely petrified. I knew if I fell into one of those gaping mouths, it would mean instant death!
I squirmed and squirmed as hard as I could to free myself but Pam was holding me so tightly, I couldn’t get away. I began to panic! If I couldn’t save myself, I was determined to save Roald and Anna.
With all this racket, I knew even if I barked as loudly as I could, they probably wouldn’t hear me. I had to warn them using silent dog words and hope they were paying attention.
Roald! Anna! There are giant dogs out here trying to kill me! Quick! Run for your lives!
I don’t know if Anna and Roald heard me, but somehow Pam must have been able to read my mind because she looked at all those barking dogs and bellowed, “Quiet!”
Without another woof, every dog fell silent and sat down! Pam smiled at me and said in a gentle voice, “It’s okay, Sojo, I’ll keep you safe.” A couple of steps later she stopped and looked at me with a kind smile and said, “Sojo, there’s someone I want you to meet.”
She kneeled down and held me right up to the face of this huge, furry dog. He sniffed me all over with his big, cold, wet nose!
Pleeease, I beg of you! Pleeease don’t kill me!
“Be gentle, Robert,” said Pam in a firm voice.
Robert sat down and swished his tail across the snow.
“Sojo . . . this is your father,” said Pam.
Dad? Dad is that really you?
Yes, it’s me, Sojo. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, he said. Then he gave me a big, wet sloppy kiss right across my face.
Oh, yyyuk! I blurted.
He had a sort of pleasant vinegary smell. And as I looked him over, I saw that my dad was quite a handsome fellow. He had gray fur with a grayish white face, big round eyes, and an enormous bushy tail.
It was a quick visit and then I was whisked back to my doghouse. Before I could tell anyone what happened to me, Pam picked up Anna and carted her away to visit our dad. When Pam tried to pick up my brother Roald, he started to cry and ducked behind Mom.
For some reason poor Roald was afraid of everything and every time Pam reached for him he cried louder. Finally she gave up and Roald didn’t get to meet his dad that day.
The next morning Pam came and turned our doghouse around so we could sit in the doorway and look out at the other dogs. I was shocked and amazed by what happened next. Pam put a harness on our father and five other dogs and attached them to a sled with a line. She quickly jumped on the back of the sled and bellowed, “All right, let’s go!” All six dogs leaned into their harnesses and began dragging the sled down a narrow trail as though they were common beasts of burden. Pam did nothing to help them and simply stood on the sled like she was some sort of queen!
My eyes nearly bugged out of my head. I asked indignantly, Did you see that, Anna?
Yes, it looked exciting, replied Anna with her lips pulled back in a doggie smile.
Exciting? Don’t you think those dogs felt humiliated being forced to drag that sled?
Anna shook her head. They were all barking and jumping up and down before they took off. It looked to me like they were having fun.
I lay down and rested my chin on the bottom of the doorway and stared at the empty trail. Hmm! Didn’t look like fun to me.
Table of Contents
Introduction Part One: Mischief, Adventure, and Sled Dog School Chapters One – Five Part Two: The Arctic Chapters Six - Sixteen Part Three: Forever Young Chapters Seventeen – EighteenInterviews
Most books about sled dogs focus on the lead dog or some dog that unexpectedly saves the day. Seldom does anyone write about an ordinary team-dog like my dog Sojo who spent her life working hard and quietly doing her job. We’ve all seen dogs approach one another, do a quick sniff, and then engage in some activity – growling, playing, circling, or walking away – and we humans are often left wondering what just happened. Long ago I came to realize that there is a secret world that only dogs know, so I thought it would be fun and challenging to write a story from a dog’s perspective. Because this is a memoir, Sojo tells about many events that happened in her life instead of focusing on one particular event. Her story helps us understand not only the secret world of dogs but how Sojo became the dog she turned out to be.
Sojo was the last living member of my dog team that traveled alone across the Arctic with me. Sojo was born January 19, 1992 and passed away September 16, 2008. I still miss her very much.
Our adventures are told in five books Alone across the Arctic, Big-Enough Anna, Douggie, Ordinary Dogs, and Sojo (which, like Big-Enough Anna, is illustrated by my friend Bill Farnsworth.) I hope you enjoy them!