Introduce your kids to the Iditarod with these memorable children’s books!
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual dogsled race that takes place in Alaska. It is run in March and it goes between the Alaskan cities of Anchorage and Nome. Today’s race commemorates Alaska’s frontier past particularly the serum run that took place during Alaska’s diphtheria epidemic of 1925.
If you are looking to learn more about this fascinating event with your kids, keep reading for 10 spectacular Iditarod picture books!
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Descriptions come from Amazon; some are edited for length
Books about the Original Iditarod Race
“Togo wasn’t meant to be a sled dog. He was too feisty and independent to make a good team member, let alone a leader. But Togo is determined, and when his trainer, Leonhard Seppala, gives him a chance, he soon becomes one of the fastest sled dogs in history! His skills are put to the ultimate test, though, when Seppala and his team are called on to make the now-famous run across the frozen Arctic to deliver the serum that will save Alaska from a life-threatening outbreak of diphtheria.”
The Great Serum Race: Blazing the Iditarod Trail by Debbie Miller
“Ride shotgun with the heroic mushers whose bravery inspired the Iditarod. In the winter of 1925, Nome, Alaska, was hit by an unexpected and deadly outbreak of diphtheria. Officials immediately quarantined the town, but the only cure for the community of more than 1,400 people was antitoxin serum and the nearest supply was in Anchorage―hundreds of miles of snowbound wilderness away. The only way to get it to Nome was by dogsled. Twenty teams braved subzero temperatures and blizzard conditions to run over 600 miles in six days in a desperate relay race that saved the people of Nome. Several of the dogs, including Togo and Balto, became national heroes. Today their efforts, and those of the courageous mushers, are commemorated every March by the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.”
The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto by Natalie Standiford
“It is one of the worst storms ever. The snow has not stopped for days and it is 30 degrees below zero. But somehow Balto must get through. He is the lead dog of his sled team. And he is carrying medicine to sick children miles away in Nome, Alaska. He is their only hope. Can Balto find his way through the terrible storm? Find out in this exciting true story!”
Balto and the Great Race by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
“Balto has a quiet life as a sled dog, until tragedy strikes. Dozens of children in Nome become sick with diphtheria. Without antitoxin serum, they will perish and the closest supply is 650 miles away! The only way to get the serum to Nome is by sled, but can the dogs deliver it in time? Heading bravely into a brutal blizzard, Balto leads the race for life.”
Picture Books About the Iditarod
Akiak: A Tale From the Iditarod by Robert Blake
“When she hurts her paw on the fourth day of the race, Akiak can no longer compete in the Iditarod, the famed dogsledding race through 1,151 miles of Alaskan terrain. Her musher has no choice but to leave her behind. The rules say once a dog is dropped from the race, it may not rejoin the team. But ten-year-old lead dog Akiak doesn’t know the rules, and nothing will stop her from catching up to her team. Akiak has never won the race before. Will she be able to help her team win this time?”
Alaska’s Dog Heroes: True Stories of Remarkable Canines by Shelley Gill
“In Alaska, dogs really are a person’s best friend. These true canine stories from the last frontier describe remarkable acts of intelligence, stamina, loyalty, and heroism by Balto, Togo, Tekla, Stickeen, and more of Alaska’s famous dogs. Follow these dogs as they traverse the mountains in winter with deliveries of life-saving medicine to remote villages, fight off attacking bears, and find lost children. Alaskan canines perform amazing deeds that exhibit intelligence, stamina, loyalty, and heroism, plus they offer friendly and furry companionship to their owners.”
Storm Run: The Story of the First Woman to Win the Iditarod Sled Dog Race by Libby Riddles
“In 1985, Libby Riddles made history by becoming the first woman to win the 1,100-mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race. This brand-new edition of Riddles’s timeless adventure story is complete with updated narrative details, sidebars on all aspects of the race, photographs, and all-new illustrations by beloved illustrator Shannon Cartwright. An inspiration to children and adults everywhere, this is a compelling first-hand account of the arctic storms, freezing temperatures, loyal sled dogs, and utter determination that defined Riddles’s Iditarod victory.”
Kiana’s Iditarod by Shelly Gill
“Kiana is no ordinary dog. Born and bred to race, she leads her team of huskies on a journey unlike any other. The Iditarod – known traditionally as Alaska’s ‘Last Great Race’ – spans 1,049 icy miles from Anchorage to Nome. From the treacherous terrain to the bitter, blowing winds, the trail is full of obstacles Kiana and her team must overcome in order to reach the finish line. Along the way, they encounter packs of wild wolves, a mighty moose, and other dog-sled teams fighting for first place. Can Kiana summon the strength of her team and lead them to victory?”
Picture Books about Dogsledding
The following books aren’t particularly about the Iditarod but are great books about the sport of dogsledding or mushing!
Big-Enough Anna: The Little Sled Dog Who Braved the Arctic by Pam Flowers
“Anna may be the smallest dog in the litter, but she’s surely the most determined. In this incredible true story. Anna joins a dog team for a 2,500-mile expedition across the top of the world. Helping Pam Flowers who would become the first women to sled across the Arctic alone.”
“On a moonlit winter night, a team of dogs pulls a sled, taking the narrator and readers on a wondrous ride through the snow, into and out of the woods. It is a ride you’ll wish would never end. Through this exquisite prose poem, Gary Paulsen shares the joy, the beauty, and the grandeur of the outdoors.
From Togo to Balto to the dogs that are running the race today, I hope this list was helpful to you! If you are looking to learn more about Alaska and the Iditarod, check out the posts below!
