Togo to the Rescue: How a Heroic Husky Saved the Lives of Children in Alaska

The story of the sled dogs that braved a blizzard, transporting serum to quell a 1925 diphtheria outbreak in Nome, Alaska, has been told before, via the story of Balto the dog. In this picture book, mother-daughter collaborators the Potters (Cher Ami) spotlight another participant: sled dog leader Togo, who led the most challenging part of that relay, traveling, per back matter, 261 miles in five days under brutal conditions. Togo’s strength and special character are apparent early on when his owner, Leonhard Seppala (1877–1967), tries to give the obstreperous pup away and the animal returns, leaping through a glass window to reach him. Eventually, Togo’s fighting spirit leads Seppala to make him the head of his sled dog team. During a precisely planned operation that spans 674 miles and involves 150 dogs, Seppala elects to cut across the frozen Norton Sound, a shortcut that saves time but subjects the team to frigid winds and mortal danger from shifting ice floes, all of which Togo helps the team to overcome. Folk-style watercolor paintings give the characters a classic, sculptural feel in a triumphant telling filled with depth and excitement. Human characters are portrayed with varying skin tones. An author’s note acknowledges changes made to the historical story. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)