(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Marc Scheff. This illustrated memoir follows seventeen-year-old Shelley Gill's travels with her beloved dog, Gabe, whom she adopted while volunteering at the 1972 Rainbow Gathering. Scheff's lush, romantic illustrations (in pencil and Photoshop) fill each page, capturing the turbulence of the times as well as Gabe's intensity. Gill's story is unique, but her subject and tone seem well beyond the intended audience. A brief historical note is appended.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Judy Love. Prickly hates that her sister towers over her (literally: Sitka is ten feet tall). Prickly wreaks havoc trying to keep up with Sitka's adventures across Alaska, although that havoc produces several of the state's now-iconic sights. Somewhat rocky rhymes tell the story, which doubles as a tour of Alaska's major attractions. The antic illustrations have an old-timey Norman Rockwell look.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Robin James. Gill relates fourteen stories of real-life Alaskan dogs noted for their courage, strength, endurance, intelligence, and loyalty. The single-page vignettes include heroes such as world-famous Balto; Stickeen, naturalist explorer John Muir's companion in 1880; and Tekla, owned by Susan Butcher, four-time Iditarod winner. The accompanying full-page pup portraits are often static. Teacher suggestions for group and individual activities are included.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Photographs by Patrick J. Endres. This introduction to the "Great Land" covers Alaska's unique history, landscape, and wildlife. Each spread includes a short poem, fact-packed main text, small inset pictures, and a cheechako (newcomer to Alaska) tip, all superimposed over expansive landscape and wildlife photographs. Young readers may appreciate the references to "snotsicles" and "fish farts," but the awkward, simple poems won't hold their interest.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Goto. Fictional Hawaiian narrator Patrick and his father take readers on an island tour of their home state. The parts told in Patrick's voice are humorous and engaging, but the tone often slips into an older-person, more formal style. Bold illustrations depict various aspects of Hawaii's history, and sidenotes highlight interesting facts. A guide to the Hawaiian language is included. Glos.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shannon Cartwright. This book conveys facts about Denali's (Mt. McKinley's) flora, fauna, geology, and climbers; an Athabascan creation myth is also included. The detailed art adds interest and humor. However, the busy format, including paragraphs of factual information, rhymed text, captions, labels, and boxed inserts, scatters the reader's attention. The book could serve as a good starting point for research on North America's highest peak.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shannon Cartwright. Occasionally awkward rhyming verse relates a tall tale about a woman who digs for gold and creates the Yukon River, then enters a dog sled race with a grizzly and wolverines for a team. The playful illustrations are a good match for the story, and Alaskans will recognize the hardy Sitka rose decorating the art.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ann Barrow. The plot here is simple: a young girl at length achieves her ardent desire to swim with a blue whale. This feat occurs while she's on a scientific expedition with her mother. Embedded in the story is a considerable amount of whale lore, but the child's longing and satisfaction are expressed lyrically. Art--mostly watercolor and predominately blue--appropriately illustrate this experience based on a true story.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian