Alaska ABC Book  •  Charlene Kreeger  •  Shannon Cartwright CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2003 •  PAPER  • 32 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) An introduction to Alaska for kids 4-8, presented in an ABC format. (ALA190, $9.95)
Alaska Almanac  •  Alaska Northwest REFERENCE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES • FAMILY Facts and figures on the geography, history and culture of Alaska, from A to Z. Peppered with it-could-only-be-Alaska jokes and goofy illustrations, it makes for leisurely, entertaining browsing. (ALA21, $12.95)
Alaska's 12 Days of Summer  •  Pat Chamberlain-Calamar  •  Shannon Cartwright CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2003 •  PAPER  • 32 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A lighthearted tribute to the wildlife of Alaska for youngsters, presented in illustrations and song lyrics set to the tune of "The 12 Days of Christmas." (ALA191, $9.95)
Alaska's Bears  •  Alaska Geographic NATURAL HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 112 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A magazine-style overview of Alaska's bears replete with color photographs and articles on a range of topics. Individual sections focus on bear-watching, tracking bears, and the relationship between humans and bears. You will also find detailed descriptions of the grizzly, black and polar bear. (ALA74, $14.95)
Alaska's Three Bears  •  Shelley Gill  •  Shannon Cartwright LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 32 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) This book, written for elementary school kids, teaches about bear ecology while telling the story of a black bear, a grizzly bear and a polar bear and their search for homes in the Alaskan wilderness. (ALA189, $9.95)
Alaskan Wildlife Coloring Book  •  Jan Sovak NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 32 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Whales, grizzlies and bears await the creative touch of your 4-8 year old traveler. (ALA235, $3.95)
Ancient Forests, Discovering Nature  •  Margaret Anderson NATURAL HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 40 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A workbook on the ecology and folklore of the old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest, this book features 16 activities geared for children ages 9-12. (ALA67, $5.95)
Being Caribou, Five Months on Foot With a Caribou Herd  •  Karsten Heuer NATURAL HISTORY •  2007 •  HARD COVER • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) This illusrtaed advanture in the (ALA250, $17.95)
The Best of Robert Service, Illustrated Edition  •  Robert Service  •  Clarence Kinsey  •  Clarke Kinsey LITERATURE •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 199 PAGES • FAMILY A collection of favorites by the poet laureate of the North including "The Spell of the Yukon" and "Ballads of the Cheechako." A bank teller in Whitehourse during the Klondike gold rush, Service immortalized the frontier personalities and character in his colorful read-out-loud sagas. This handsome hardcover edition features period photographs by brothers Clarke and Clarence Kinsey, who capture the people, animals and machines of the Alaskan gold rush in evocative black-and-white images. (ALA37, $19.98)
Big Alaska, Journey Across America's Most Amazing State  •  Debbie S. Miller  •  Jon Van Zyle NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  HARD COVER  • 40 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Miller writes of the landscape, wildlife and people of Alaska on this illustrated eagle-eye journey around the state, from Admiralty Island to Glacier Bay, Kodiak, Katmai and Denali. With lush, double-page watercolor illustrations by Jon Van Zyle. (ALA231, $17.95)
Bird (Eyewitness Books)  •  David Burnie NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 64 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) An introduction to birds, their evolution, biology and behavior, in the graphic Eyewitness style with hundreds of color photographs and drawings of feathers, wings, nests, eggs (and surprisingly few birds!). It's an excellent introduction to the life of a bird for middle school readers. (BRD04, $15.99)
Buried Alive, Mysteries in Our National Parks  •  Gloria Skurzynski LITERATURE •  2008 •  PAPER • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) The Landons are in Alaska's Denali National Park and are joined by 13-year-old Nicky Milano. When Jack, Ashley and Nicky accept a dogsled ride from a man in a Park Service uniform, the kids become stranded in the frozen wilderness and are caught in an avalanche. Includes a park map. (ALA251, $4.99)
Call of the Wild, White Fang, and Other Stories  •  Jack London LITERATURE •  1993 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES • FAMILY The best of London's famed (semi-fictional) novels of adventure, including his most famous: the 1903 tale of the dog Buck and his master, John Thornton, struggling in the wilderness. Apart from its literary themes, the book is rich in details of history and geography, flora and fauna -- and it gives an awful lot of information about Klondike sled dogs. A Penguin 20th Century Classic. (ARC10, $7.95)
A Child's Alaska  •  Claire Rudolph Murphy  •  Charles Mason CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1994 •  HARD COVER  • 47 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A photographic overview of modern Alaska -- its wildlife, culture and people, written for an elementary school audience. The author writes on the changes of the seasons, the activities of children, and the indigenous peoples, who are broken down into the three groups of Aleut, Eskimo and Indian. (ALA100, $16.95)
A Child's Glacier Bay  •  Kimberly Corral NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 32 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A photographic journal of camping and kayaking at Glacier Bay with 13-year-old Hannah, younger brother Ben and their parents. Dad took the pictures and mom wrote the book with Hannah. It's a good introduction to the land and nature of Glacier Bay for young readers ages 4 to 8. (ALA87, $15.95)
Children of the Midnight Sun, Young Native Voices of Alaska  •  Tricia Brown CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2007 •  PAPER  • 48 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A profile of eight children, this book features vivid color photography and great information on daily life, customs and background of the Tlingit, Haida, Aleut and other cultures throughout Alaska. Aimed at children ages 9-12, it's a balanced presentation of modern challenges and traditional ways. Outstanding. (ALA68, $8.95)
Clueless in Alaska: Know More!  •  Jennifer Funk Weber NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) An activity book filled with puzzles, fun facts, games and jokes, geared for kids ages 4-8. (ALA219, $12.95)
Czar of Alaska, The Cross of Charlemagne  •  Richard Trout MYSTERY •  2005 •  HARD COVER  • 256 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS The fourth novel in the action-packed, fact-filled, techno-thriller MacGregor Family Adventure Series for young teens, set in Alaska. (ALA232, $15.95)
Disappearing Lake  •  Debbie S. Miller  •  Jon Van Zyle NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 32 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Illustrated with large wildlife paintings, this book explains the vernal lakes of Alaska's Denali National Park. Formed by the melting winter snows, these lakes evaporate as the summer progresses, producing a unique ecosystem. Written for elementary school children, it can be enjoyed as both an educational book and a collection of nature paintings. (ALA98, $7.95)
Face to Face With Grizzlies  •  Joel Sartore NATURAL HISTORY •  2007 •  HARD COVER  • 32 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Ever been face-to-face with a grizzly bear? Joel Sartore has -- and he lived to tell this and other great tales in Face to Face with Grizzlies. Through stunning photography and engaging storytelling, this National Geographic expert takes you into the bears' world. Witness a mother bear charge a human intruder. Watch male bears battle. Find out the grizzly's idea of a fast-food take-out. (BST120, $16.95)
Frozen Stiff  •  Sherry Shahan LITERATURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 150 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A story of adventure set in the Alaskan wilderness. Two young kayakers set out for what they figure will be a harmless day traversing the fjords, when an unexpected twist of events sends them into a struggle for survival. It's a fast moving novel, perfect for preteens. (ALA103, $5.50)
Glaciers, Nature's Icy Caps  •  David L. Harrison NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  HARD COVER • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Explains in simplest terms the formation and movement of glaciers. With fine illustrations. (ALA258, $15.95)
Growing Up Grizzly, The True Story of Baylee And Her Cubs  •  Amy Shapira NATURAL HISTORY •  2007 •  HARD COVER  • 48 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Focused on a mother bear who welcomes a lost cub into her clan, this true story is framed by Amy Shapira's award-winning photographs of Alaskan Grizzlies. (ALA259, $14.95)
How Do Birds Find Their Way?  •  Roma Gans  •  Paul Mirocha NATURAL HISTORY •  1996 •  PAPER  • 32 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A colorful introduction to migratory birds and those that study them for elementary school children. With charming (and helpful) double-page watercolor paintings, pencil drawings and maps. A volume in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. (BST87, $5.99)
Humpback Whales  •  Dianne M. MacMillan NATURAL HISTORY •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 48 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) An illustrated introduction to the behavior of the humpback whales. (ALA262, $26.60)
The Hunted, A Mystery in Glacier National Park  •  Gloria Skurzynski MYSTERY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 160 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) The fifth installment from the popular series follows the Landon family's attempts to uncover the mysterious disappearance of Grizzly cubs in Glacier National Park. (ALA252, $4.99)
I Heard the Owl Call My Name  •  Margaret Craven LITERATURE •  1993 •  PAPER  • 159 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS In this brief novel, a young vicar comes to live with the Kwakiutl Indians of the town of Kingcome in the Pacific Northwest. Written for teens but worthwhile for adults, it is a story of cultural sharing and the rediscovery of ancient Native American traditions. (PNW90, $6.99)
Julie of the Wolves  •  Jean Craighead George LITERATURE •  1972 •  PAPER  • 170 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS The classic tale of a young Eskimo girl who chooses to run with the wolves rather than submit to a cruel husband. This young adult novel whipped up some controversy on publication in 1972, due to brief but violent sexual content, and we would caution parents that it's most appropriate for teens and sophisticated pre-teens. (ALA144, $5.99)
Kavik the Wolf Dog  •  Walt Morey  •  Peter Parnall LITERATURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A reprint of a classic children's novel about Kavik, a wolf-dog who is rescued by a loving boy after a plane crash in Alaska. Kavik, who has been reared as a champion sled-dog, is taken away from the boy and must make a perilous journey back to his home in Washington. He is determined to reunite with his savior, though, and makes a 2000 mile journey from Washington to Alaska, in search of the compassionate boy. Written for preteens. (ALA99, $5.99)
Kiana's Iditarod  •  Shelley Gill  •  Shannon Cartwright LITERATURE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 64 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Geared towards elementary school students, this is a tale of the great Alaskan dog-sled race Iditarod, as seen through the eyes of Kiana, one of the lead sled dogs. Ages 5-8. (ALA104, $9.95)
The Kid's Guide to Cruising Alaska  •  Eileen Ogintz GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES • FAMILY With illustrations, fun facts about the glaciers and Alaska's Inside Passage, and tips for kids who are new to cruises, this book is a must-have for any family planning to take one of these popular cruises. (ALA198, $8.95)
Klondike Gold  •  Alice Provensen BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2005 •  HARD COVER  • 40 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Caldecott-winner Provenson (A Day in the Life of Murphy) takes up the tale of a real-life miner Bill Howell and pal Joe in this fictionalized, wonderfully illustrated account of the adventure, hardship and rewards of the 1897 gold rush on the Yukon for younger readers. Her accompanying oil paintings add period atmosphere and the illustrated panels along the bottom add historical detail. (ALA217, $17.95)
The Little Fox, An Alaska Adventure  •  Ram Papish NATURAL HISTORY •  2007 •   • 48 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Papish draws on his work as a seabird biologist for this gorgeously illustrated account of the adventures of a young arctic fox among the fur seals, puffins, auks and other birds of the Pribilof islands. (ALA256, $15.95)
Looking for Seabirds, Journal from an Alaskan Voyage  •  Sophie Webb NATURAL HISTORY •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 48 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) Webb's illustrated account of a month-long journey aboard a research vessel in the Aleutians for middle-schoolers. She captures the texture and routines of research both in the text and watercolor illustrations. (ALA215, $16.00)
Lucky Hares and Itchy Bears  •  Susan Ewing  •  Evon Zerbetz LITERATURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 32 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) This children's book combines lively block print illustrations of Alaskan wildlife with short poems. It is a colorful, fun introduction to the nature of Alaska that may be written for elementary school children, but can be enjoyed by the whole family. (ALA116, $8.95)
My Denali, Exploring Alaska's Favorite National Park with Hannah Corral  •  Kimberly Corral  •  Hannah Corral  •  Roy Corral NATURAL HISTORY •  1995 •  HARD COVER  • 32 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A day in the life of Denali National Park, as seen through the eyes of a twelve-year-old girl. Hannah Corral and her parents, Kimberly and Roy, spend a summer day hiking through the stunning Alaskan wilderness, commenting on the natural beauty. Written by Kimberley and Hannah and complemented by Roy's nature photography, this book is a wonderful companion for any family traveling to the Denali National Park. Written for ages 9-12. (ALA96, $15.95)
A Northern Christmas  •  Rockwell Kent TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 40 PAGES • FAMILY First published in 1941, this charming book is adapted from Kent's Wilderness, A Journal of Quiet Adventure in Alaska (ALA106, $17.95). It's Rockwell Kent's illustrated tale of Christmas with his nine-year-old son in remote Alaska. The woodcuts are delightful. (ALA175, $11.95)
Orcas Around Me, My Alaskan Summer  •  Deborah Page  •  Leslie W. Bowman LITERATURE •  1997 •  HARD COVER  • 40 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) The story of a summer spent fishing in the waters off Alaska's coast, as told through the voice of a young boy named Taiga (who is actually the author's son). Written for elementary school children. (ALA117, $15.95)
Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers, Reflections on Being Raised by a Pack of Sled Dogs  •  Gary Paulsen NATURAL HISTORY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 80 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) Iditarod racer and children's book author Gary Paulsen's loving account of his lead dog Cookie and her litter of pups. (ALA253, $5.95)
The Race to Save the Lord God Bird  •  Phillip Hoose NATURAL HISTORY •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 208 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) An engaging and well-researched history of the ivory-billed woodpecker, and the struggles surrounding its survival. It's a suspenseful and entertaining book about modern conservation and environmental issues for middle-school readers, featuring John James Audubon and others. The bird, only recently rediscovered, once ranged across the southeastern United States. With black-and-white photographs throughout. (BRD30, $21.00)
Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest  •  Gerald McDermott LITERATURE •  1993 •  HARD COVER • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Told in simple language, this beautifully illustrated traditional tale of the raven -- a familiar symbol on totem poles -- is geared for children ages 4-8. A Caldecott Honor Book. (ALA62, $16.00)
Seabird  •  Holling C. Holling LITERATURE •  1978 •  PAPER  • 61 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) Whether you're at the coast or on the ocean, this children's book is excellently appropriate reading. An illustrated classic, it follows the history of American seafaring through the eyes (and adventures) of a carved ivory gull. Across four generations and around the world, by whaler, clipper, steamer and airplane, the gull witnesses life at sea. Ages 9-12. (OCE79, $11.95)
Stampede for Gold, The Story of the Klondike Rush  •  Pierre Berton HISTORY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS The great Canadian historian Pierre Berton weaves the amazing--and amazingly brutal--story of the Yukon Gold Rush of 1896-1899, where thousands, including Berton's own parents, took to the showy mountains of northern Canada in search of fortune. (CND289, $6.95)
Tisha, The Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaska Wilderness  •  Robert Specht BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2003 •  PAPER  • 342 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS The as-told-to autobiography of Anne Hobbs, who in 1927, at age 19, accepted a position as the only schoolteacher in Chicken, Alaska. Called "Tisha" by her students, Anne unwittingly enraged the white townspeople by consorting with Alaskan natives; but with grace, determination and bravery she continued to act as she thought right. This compelling book is a marvelous portrait of pre-statehood Alaska -- and a wonderful read. Ages 11 and up. (ALA133, $7.50)
Touching Spirit Bear  •  Ben Mikaelsen LITERATURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 241 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS In the tradition of Gary Paulsen's "Hatchet" comes this novel of a delinquent boy's adventures on a remote Alaskan island. This young adult's novel follows the fate of Cole, an abused and abusive troubled teen who chooses a traditional First Nation punishment -- banishment -- over incarceration. But banishment isn't sufficient to reform Cole. For that, it takes an encounter with the white Spirit Bear of First Nation legends. Ages 12 and up. (PNW127, $5.99)
Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival  •  Velma Wallis LITERATURE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 175 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS A retelling of a traditional Athabaskan legend by Velma Wallis, an Athabaskan woman born and raised in Fort Yukon on the upper Yukon River. It's an inspiring tale of two old women abandoned by their tribe who must make their own way, alone, through the winter in the Alaskan wild. With line drawings throughout. Teens and adults are the appropriate audience. (ALA64, $12.95)
Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises (See and Explore Library)  •  Mark Carwardine NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 64 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) With 900 detailed illustrations, this slim book is a highly visual guide to cetaceans that will appeal to kids ages 9 to 12. (BST10, $7.99)
Wild Man Island  •  Will Hobbs LITERATURE •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 192 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) The exciting survival story of a 14-year-old boy kayaking up an Alaskan strait. (ALA261, $19.99)