BALTO AND THE GREAT RACE

paper 0-679-89198-6 This Stepping Stone entry takes on the story of Balto, which, in its facts, is thrilling: a Siberian husky becomes lead dog on his team and tracks through a raging blizzard to bring desperately needed antitoxin serum to Nome in 1925. Kimmel (Ice Story, p. 66, etc.) explains how dangerous diphtheria was at the time, how isolated Nome was, and how severe the weather condition, but the telling is often mired in awkward metaphors and repetition. Emily Morgan, the nurse who worked beside Dr. Curtis Welch in Nome, isn’t mentioned until halfway through the book. Anthropomorphic analysis of Balto’s “feelings” and “thoughts” are included, detracting from the tale for all but the most fanatical of dog-lovers. (b&w illustrations, not seen) (Nonfiction, ages 8-11)