There are two famous sled dog races that take place in Alaska each year, the
Yukon Quest and the Iditarod. The Iditarod is held each year on the first
Saturday in March. Teams of sled dogs and mushers gather in Anchorage, Alaska
this and make the 1,000-mile trek to Nome, Alaska. The Iditarod is a challenging
race that takes 8 to 15 days to complete. The Yukon Quest which is also 1,000
miles is considered to be even more challenging than the Iditarod because it
takes place earlier in the year when it's colder and darker. It runs between
Fairbanks, Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon (Canada), and takes 9 to 24 days to
complete. The race is unique in that it takes place in two countries. Each year
the direction of the race alternates so Fairbanks and Whitehorse take turns
being the start and finish line. The Yukon Quest is so challenging... it is
considered to be the toughest sled dog race in the world!
Author Denise Lawson recently adopted a retired sled dog named Black
Bear. Black Bear was born in Eagle, Alaska and was a lead dog in the
2009 Yukon Quest. She also led dog teams on remote wilderness
expeditions for many years. How cool is that? When Black Bear was
ready to retire and needed a forever home, Denise Lawson and her family
welcomed her into theirs. Denise Lawson loves Black Bear so much, she
wrote an entire series of children's books about her. The first book in
the series is Black Bear Goes to Washington and the most recent book is
Run Like a Sled Dog. Keep reading to learn more about these two
books, how you can use them in the classroom, and more about Black Bear
herself!
