Sojo: Memoirs of a Reluctant Sled Dog

Description

Sojo the sled dog is born into a hardworking, talented family and starts life as a happy, trusting, and confident dog. But her confidence rapidly wanes as she begins to understand how complicated and challenging it is to be a sled dog. She fears that she will never learn how to do the job and is overshadowed by her sister, Anna, who is very smart and confident and gets all the glory. Reluctantly, she accepts that she is destined to be a sled dog, undergoes training, and much to her surprise, makes the team. When explorer Pam Flowers and the team set out alone across the arctic, Sojo's self-confidence and pride in her work slowly grow. By journey's end, she comes to realize that she has made a valuable contribution to the success of the adventure and is respected as a sled dog. When she retires, Sojo is a contented dog who understands that doing your best and being supportive of friends and family is what is most important.

Pam Flowers has spoken to over 800,000 students and received the Gold Medal from the Society of Woman Geographers and was named "Outsider of the Year" by Outside Magazine. She has participated in nine arctic expeditions and a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. This amazing and inspiring woman shares her adventures with dogs in five other noteworthy and award-winning books published by Alaska Northwest Books: Ellie's Long Walk, Douggie, Alone across the Arctic: One Woman's Epic Journey By Dog Team, Big Enough Anna, and Ordinary Dogs, Extraordinary Friendships. PamFlowers.com 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

"Sojo's narrative voice as she relates the Arctic adventure is jaunty, with just the right amount of goofiness to appeal to young readers' sensibilities, while Farnsworth's black-and-white illustrations add charm. . . Readers will come to understand the loyalty and camaraderie between Pam and her dog sled team as well as the absolute dependence each species has on the other for survival in the harsh environment. An action-filled story about dog sledding and teamwork presented in just the right way for its readership." -Kirkus