Lots of people love dogs. Few of them, however, devote as
much time, energy, thought, and affection to their canine friends as does Pam
Flowers, author of a new book titled Ordinary
Dogs, Extraordinary Friendships:
Stories of Loyalty, Courage, and Compassion published by Alaska Northwest Books. This 144-page book for
upper-elementary aged children (and dog lovers of any age) contains eleven
short stories from Pam’s decades of friendship with numerous pets and working
sled dogs. Each story relates the personality and behavior of her dogs to human
situations and character traits in a relaxed, first-person voice that is both instructive
and interesting.
As a former school librarian, I’ve read countless
well-intentioned stories for children, written to teach them valuable lessons about
life and how to behave. With few exceptions, they are dull and forgettable. I’m
pleased to report that Pam’s tales are neither. Who can forget a true story
about a curious polar bear accidentally driving Pam’s dog team? Or details like
this: “Over the breeze came the faint smell of corn chips. In the pure Arctic
air, untainted by other odors, that’s what my team smells like.”
From "The Iditarod -- Teamwork Below Zero"
In the story “Good-Bye, My Friend,” Pam admits, “I’ve always
been pretty sappy when it comes to dogs…every dog I ever knew easily won a
place in my heart.” Pam’s relationships with her dogs are grounded not only in
sentiment, but in the realities of their shared challenges and outdoor adventures.
These true stories of mutual respect, affection, teamwork, and loyalty are
genuinely heartwarming. One of those realities is the death of a canine friend,
a subject often glossed over in nonfiction for children because it’s hard to
talk about. Pam writes about it here with grace and honesty.
From "The Bully"
Each chapter is illustrated with a line drawing, as well as
spot illustrations, by Jason Baskin. The simple drawings capture the energy of
the dogs and emotional essence of their situations. A glossary defines terms
used in dog mushing and the Arctic .
Full disclosure: Pam and I co-wrote two books together, Alone Across the Arctic and Big-Enough Anna. Since then Pam has gone
on to write several books for children: Ellie’s
Long Walk and Douggie: The Playful
Pup Who Became a Sled Dog Hero. Pam lives in Talkeetna, Alaska. For more information about Pam Flowers,
visit www.pamflowers.com.
