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Who knew that Gary Paulsen was an experienced Iditarod
racer? I surely did not, but this book
definitely proved that he was a true racer and a great breeder, leader, parent,
friend, and even student of the dogs.
Compared to some of his other work like Hatchet, Puppies, Dogs, and Blue
Northers is short but is also quite descriptive and leads readers into a sled
dog trainer’s experiences. The story of
one of the many litters that Paulsen’s top dog Cookie mothered is beautifully
set in Paulsen’s northern home, and the book is even more vivid with
spectacular artwork done by his wife.
The book is very informational and shows a great relationship between
dogs and their master that later evolves into a wonderful friendship, which
teaches both man and animal. One of the
many parts in Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers that I enjoyed the most is the
encountering of Paulsen’s dog in the Paulsen household. Once let loose, Cookie’s puppies create a
great deal of chaos by destroying furniture, waking up other family members
from sleep, and stealing stored food from the pantry. This becomes one of the puppies’ many daily routines in effort to
teach them more about human life. To
read about other sled dog pasts of Gary Paulsen please read Puppies, Dogs, and
Blue Northers and become “doggy”.