(4) 4-6 You Choose: Surviving Extreme Sports series. Snow, bitter cold, wild animals, and other physical dangers are omnipresent in these pick-your-path wilderness-survival stories. Readers' choices determine whether the adventure ends successfully or in failure. The narratives highlight the exhilaration and danger of both extreme sports; color photographs sprinkled throughout illustrate the majestic yet harsh environments. An epilogue provides limited contextual background. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these You Choose: Surviving Extreme Sports titles: Surviving Mount Everest and Surviving the Iditarod.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Xtreme Races series. These books deal with four of the nation's most popular and time-honored racing events. They relate the history and uniqueness of each competition, give specifics of each race, and briefly touch on important participants, including some animal champions in Derby and Iditarod. Color photographs vary in quality and there are some poor design choices; "Xtreme Fact" inserts add compelling details. Glos., ind. Review covers these Xtreme Races titles: America's Cup, Indianapolis 500, Iditarod, and Kentucky Derby.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 When her family moves to Alaska, young Tatum comes to love the brutal weather and the legendary Iditarod. Soon she and Bandit (a retired musher dog), and her friend Cole are caught in a blizzard. Though a hovering wolf dog and blustery winds create some tension, Tatum's protracted journey through deep snow grows tedious for her--and for readers.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) K-3 Painter and Ugly, two sled dogs that are separated at the story's beginning, find each other on the Junior Iditarod Trail. The dogs seem to jump right out of the accomplished oil paintings, and the fast-paced text will keep readers' hearts racing as the dogs listen to their own instincts to be reunited.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Shannon Cartwright. This is a fascinating firsthand account of the author's victory at the 1985 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Blizzards, sub-zero temperatures, and icy terrain are just some of the conflicts detailed. While the challenge of the thousand-mile Alaskan race is intense, so is this musher's love and admiration for her team of dogs. Pastel-toned illustrations alternate with Riddles's sometimes blurry personal photos.

Reviewer: Charlotte S. Huck

(4) 4-6 High Five Reading series. Intended for reluctant readers, these books provide rushed but adequate introductions. Iditarod tracks the history of the race, as well as discussing supplies, dangers, and the dogs themselves. Games touches on events in the annual summer and winter competitions; excess exclamation points are distracting. These overviews are accompanied by small photos. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these High Five Reading titles: The Iditarod and X Games.]

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn