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Dogteam
On a moonlit winter night, a team of dogs pulls a sled, taking the narrator and readers on a wondrous ride through the snow, into and out of the woods. It is a ride you'll wish would never end.
Through this exquisite prose poem, Gary Paulsen shares the joy, the beauty, and the grandeur of the outdoors. With his joyous text and Ruth Wright Paulsen's exuberant and expressive illustrations, Dogteam is a celebration of nature, a dance that invites everyone to join in.
Through this exquisite prose poem, Gary Paulsen shares the joy, the beauty, and the grandeur of the outdoors. With his joyous text and Ruth Wright Paulsen's exuberant and expressive illustrations, Dogteam is a celebration of nature, a dance that invites everyone to join in.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1993
5 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Gary Paulsen
411 books3,995 followersGary James Paulsen was an American writer of children's and young adult fiction, best known for coming-of-age stories about the wilderness. He was the author of more than 200 books and wrote more than 200 magazine articles and short stories, and several plays, all primarily for teenagers. He won the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1997 for his lifetime contribution in writing for teens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 3, 2024
3.5 rounded up
As well as being a stellar writer of children’s literature, Gary Paulsen was a seasoned dog musher, participating three times in the Alaskan Iditarod, the 1000 mile dog sled race. In this poetic picture book, beautifully illustrated in watercolours by his wife, Paulsen describes the sights and particularly the sounds of nighttime dog sledding. “Nothing in running dogs is quite so beautiful as a night run—,” he writes, “the cold is crisper, the dogs run for the pure joy of running, and the moon seems to dance on the snow.”
The picture book begins with his hitching up his seven trembling huskies, who sing “small songs of excitement when the harnesses are put on.” Once the run begins, there’s no sound but “the high-soft-shusshh-whine of the runners and the soft jingle of . . . [the dogs’] collars.” The team briefly encounters a pack of wolves, which run with them, and “pace our hearts and our lives.” In time, driver and team find they’ve circled the cabin and have returned to where they began: “the dogs are coated with ice and the snaps on their collars and harness won’t open and their laughing-panting breath freezes on their cheeks and makes them all smiles, dogsmiles, doglaughs.”
As you can see from the above, Paulsen has fun with language here. There are times when I think he goes too far and risks losing the comprehension of his young audience. A couple of sentences are just a bit too abstract and mystical.
Overall, though, this is a lovely book. I’ve never been dog sledding but I certainly know those frigid winter nights when the full moon and the light’s reflection off the blue-white snow make the night so bright “you could read in the dark.”
As well as being a stellar writer of children’s literature, Gary Paulsen was a seasoned dog musher, participating three times in the Alaskan Iditarod, the 1000 mile dog sled race. In this poetic picture book, beautifully illustrated in watercolours by his wife, Paulsen describes the sights and particularly the sounds of nighttime dog sledding. “Nothing in running dogs is quite so beautiful as a night run—,” he writes, “the cold is crisper, the dogs run for the pure joy of running, and the moon seems to dance on the snow.”
The picture book begins with his hitching up his seven trembling huskies, who sing “small songs of excitement when the harnesses are put on.” Once the run begins, there’s no sound but “the high-soft-shusshh-whine of the runners and the soft jingle of . . . [the dogs’] collars.” The team briefly encounters a pack of wolves, which run with them, and “pace our hearts and our lives.” In time, driver and team find they’ve circled the cabin and have returned to where they began: “the dogs are coated with ice and the snaps on their collars and harness won’t open and their laughing-panting breath freezes on their cheeks and makes them all smiles, dogsmiles, doglaughs.”
As you can see from the above, Paulsen has fun with language here. There are times when I think he goes too far and risks losing the comprehension of his young audience. A couple of sentences are just a bit too abstract and mystical.
Overall, though, this is a lovely book. I’ve never been dog sledding but I certainly know those frigid winter nights when the full moon and the light’s reflection off the blue-white snow make the night so bright “you could read in the dark.”
February 1, 2020
But they did eventually unharness the dogs and let them go back to bed, right?
In all seriousness, one of my most preferred picture books, thanks in no small part to the illustrations.
In all seriousness, one of my most preferred picture books, thanks in no small part to the illustrations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2017
Would Gary Paulsen's career be complete without a picture book about dogsledding? I think not, and in 1993 he filled that gap with the publication of Dogteam, a poetic rendering of a night spent by a man crisscrossing the Minnesota wilds behind a team of strong, hearty dogs he trusts to lead him safely through the unforgiving cold of northern winter. Dogteam attempts to capture the feeling of whooshing through unblemished snow at top speed on a sled pulled by dogs who are never happier than when they're running at night in frigid temperatures, relishing the oneness of purpose that cooperative species have enjoyed since the dawn of time. This is the beauty of dogsledding, and it's what Gary Paulsen most wants to share with his readers.
Dangerous cold can't stop a sled team when it's their night to run free, the moon hovering so white and pure that it illuminates the nightscape like day. Around trees and over brush the dogs pound across the snow, racing against no opponent other than lack of speed and adrenaline. Through the glowing darkness they run across massive frozen lakes and sometimes next to wolves, who catch on to the rhythm and keep pace beside the harnessed canines for a spell as they make their run, before heading off on their own into the wilderness. The yellow electric light of home is finally spotted, where people wait warm inside, and the exotic wintersong concludes for now. But there always is another run just around the corner, when man will again hitch his destiny to that of his dogteam and commune with the natural world as few ever do. Was there ever a human more fully alive than Gary Paulsen?
The writing may feel awkward at times, but Ruth Wright Paulsen's illustrations are gorgeous. She understands better than anyone her husband's love for dogsledding, and that comes through in the artwork of Dogteam. My favorite part is the book's Dedication, "To Storm", which will hold deep meaning to readers of Gary Paulsen's Woodsong. Storm's death was a uniquely emotional story, and it's fitting that the author would dedicate a book to him. I would rate Dogteam one and a half stars, and I almost rounded up to two. It isn't as polished as Gary Paulsen's other picture books, but this is a visually pleasing winter journey the author's fans shouldn't miss. I'm glad I took that journey.
Dangerous cold can't stop a sled team when it's their night to run free, the moon hovering so white and pure that it illuminates the nightscape like day. Around trees and over brush the dogs pound across the snow, racing against no opponent other than lack of speed and adrenaline. Through the glowing darkness they run across massive frozen lakes and sometimes next to wolves, who catch on to the rhythm and keep pace beside the harnessed canines for a spell as they make their run, before heading off on their own into the wilderness. The yellow electric light of home is finally spotted, where people wait warm inside, and the exotic wintersong concludes for now. But there always is another run just around the corner, when man will again hitch his destiny to that of his dogteam and commune with the natural world as few ever do. Was there ever a human more fully alive than Gary Paulsen?
The writing may feel awkward at times, but Ruth Wright Paulsen's illustrations are gorgeous. She understands better than anyone her husband's love for dogsledding, and that comes through in the artwork of Dogteam. My favorite part is the book's Dedication, "To Storm", which will hold deep meaning to readers of Gary Paulsen's Woodsong. Storm's death was a uniquely emotional story, and it's fitting that the author would dedicate a book to him. I would rate Dogteam one and a half stars, and I almost rounded up to two. It isn't as polished as Gary Paulsen's other picture books, but this is a visually pleasing winter journey the author's fans shouldn't miss. I'm glad I took that journey.
July 5, 2013
Gary Paulsen brings us the sounds, colors, coldness, and exhilaration of a nighttime run with sled dogs in the picture book “Dogteam.” Paulsen almost exclusively uses sentence fragments in this work, and the text comes across almost like poetry as it emphasizes the dogs’ instincts to just run. The dogs are single-minded, seeking only the thrill of the run, so the text provided focuses on the action at hand and doesn’t get bogged down in subject-verb-object rules and requirements. Readers can almost feel the cold wind of this nighttime activity and hear the breath of the dogs as they make their way through the snow. The illustrations by Ruth Wright Paulsen capture the blue-black darkness of the sky, and the blue-white glow of the snow. The dogs are rendered realistically, not as cutesie creatures, but as intense animals focused on the task at hand. Wright Paulsen uses watercolors to create the artful illustrations that nature-loving readers will adore. Both Paulsens capture the magnificence of nature with this captivating picture book, recommended for readers ages 6-12.
March 31, 2016
Poem about running a dogsled team on a winter night. written by Minnesota Author Gary Paulsen and illustrated by his wife.
Very simple text and vocabulary.
I did not find it useful or explanatory of dogsledding
Could be integrated into the classroom in the following ways:
Would be useful as an exemplar of an illustrated poem.
Part of a Gary Paulsen unit.
Part of a Minnesota culture or author exploration unit.
Inference: How does the author feel about this activity?
Discussion of styles of illustration.
Have the students write a poem about an enjoyed activity and illustrate it.
Very simple text and vocabulary.
I did not find it useful or explanatory of dogsledding
Could be integrated into the classroom in the following ways:
Would be useful as an exemplar of an illustrated poem.
Part of a Gary Paulsen unit.
Part of a Minnesota culture or author exploration unit.
Inference: How does the author feel about this activity?
Discussion of styles of illustration.
Have the students write a poem about an enjoyed activity and illustrate it.
December 28, 2018
Is it horrible that for me, this book was TOO basic to be a Gary Paulsen? I am thinking that any parent who buys this book for a toddler already has an interest, which means the kid is probably interested just because s/he emulates the parents at this point. For me, it was overly simple but I guess it is a good start for a kid whose parent don't know anything.
August 22, 2019
I haven't reviewed a kids book before, but this one "broke the ice." The text was just SO bad. It's like all that is worst in modern poetry pur into a kids book. Shouldn't you at least refrain from making up words in a book for kids who are still learning to read?
The illustrations are nice.
The illustrations are nice.
March 11, 2023
Odd text, but pretty pictures.
February 27, 2013
This is a beautiful tribute to the sled dogs competing in the Iditarod race in Alaska. The narrative is lyrical and despite its brevity, conveys the drama, excitement and thrill of the race. The illustrations are colorful and show the Alaskan wilderness in all of its grandeur. It would certainly be a great way to introduce children to the history and excitement of this famous race.
I discovered this one while shopping for souvenirs during my short stay in Anchorage.
I discovered this one while shopping for souvenirs during my short stay in Anchorage.
December 13, 2014
This was one of my all-time favorite books as a child because I grew up having sled dogs, but you don't have to be a musher to enjoy this picture book. This book shows a team racing through the night, only to race home to the comfort of familiar lights. I would read this book in the winter, and have students make a list of other fun winter activities they can do, and write about a time they spent outside in the snow.
December 9, 2013
From the high-starred reviews I guess I'm in the minority with this one. It felt like some Alaskan poets thought to write a children's book that aren't parents themselves or a poem already existed about dog racing in the arctic that someone else thought would make for a good kid's book.
My kids were not fans.
My kids were not fans.
April 29, 2009
I liked the way he drew you into the story, so you get a sense of what it must feel like to be there running the dogs yourself. If I was at all drawn to the lifestyle of racing dogs in the cold and the snow, I would have rated it higher.
March 23, 2013
I shared this book with my students who were working on an Iditarod unit with me. They are fascinated with dogsled teams, so hearing Paulsen's poem and seeing the great illustrations brought this run alive to them.
January 23, 2016
This book tries so very hard to be lyrical and poetic. And it is. I guess. But when reading aloud it leads to a lot of verbal stumbling and back-tracking to make sure what you read was correct.
The illustrations are good though.
The illustrations are good though.
June 2, 2012
I loved the pacing of this one. The poetic narrative pulls the reader into the panting of the dogs and the whoosh of the runners in the snow.
August 22, 2012
Good example of using the craft of purposeful repetition in your writing. Different repetition patterns to share with students in this text.
March 10, 2013
Notes:
beautifully illustrated
written in a lyrical/poetic style
beautifully illustrated
written in a lyrical/poetic style
June 25, 2013
A fun read about sled dogs....
April 26, 2015
Poetic, descriptive children's book about running with the dogs at night written by Gary Paulsen, who has run the Iditarod twice. Beautiful illustrations by Gary's wife, Ruth Wright Paulsen.
Read
February 16, 2016We use this book to introduce our study of the Iditarod each winter.
December 8, 2017
This picture book reads like a poem and is a great way to introduce a child to the form. The illustrations are beautiful. Can be used as an autobiography for passport to literature.
December 19, 2019
lyrical, beautiful writing constantly pressing forward like the dogs in the story. beautiful illustration as well. (features northern lights) used in winter storytime Dec. 2019
August 22, 2021
I think this is my new favorite picture book! The beauty of the words makes you want to become a musher just to share the same moments as the author.
December 1, 2020
I liked it, but I didn't love it.
December 28, 2020
Like the idea of the story but did not care for the way it was written or the illustrations.
December 3, 2019
Book Title: Dogteam
Author/Illustrator: Gary Paulsen
Reading Level: LG
Book Level: 3.2
Book Summary:
This is a romanticized version of a dog sled ride written with beautiful prose.
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Trait:
Presentation- This book about a dog sled ride, in conjunction with The Great Serum Race: Blazing the Iditarod Trail by Debbie S. Miller, would be a great way to teach students that as writers, how we feel comes through in the sentences we choose. By choosing sentences that are varied and include structures that are interesting to the reader, we can help our readers connect with what we're trying to say as a writer. In this book, it paints a romantic picture of a dog sled ride through beautiful prose and sentence structure that is varied and interesting. I would help students to connect with what the most famous historical dogsled ride was like by also reading Ms. Miller's The Great Serum Race: Blazing the Iditarod as well. Then I would have students pick something they don't like (a vegetable they don't like) and write a positive poem or story about the item. I would help them to see that how we present the information can influence our Readers.
Other suggestions:
This book would also be a great small group book for increasing sentence fluency while reading. Or to model poetry conventions.
Author/Illustrator: Gary Paulsen
Reading Level: LG
Book Level: 3.2
Book Summary:
This is a romanticized version of a dog sled ride written with beautiful prose.
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Trait:
Presentation- This book about a dog sled ride, in conjunction with The Great Serum Race: Blazing the Iditarod Trail by Debbie S. Miller, would be a great way to teach students that as writers, how we feel comes through in the sentences we choose. By choosing sentences that are varied and include structures that are interesting to the reader, we can help our readers connect with what we're trying to say as a writer. In this book, it paints a romantic picture of a dog sled ride through beautiful prose and sentence structure that is varied and interesting. I would help students to connect with what the most famous historical dogsled ride was like by also reading Ms. Miller's The Great Serum Race: Blazing the Iditarod as well. Then I would have students pick something they don't like (a vegetable they don't like) and write a positive poem or story about the item. I would help them to see that how we present the information can influence our Readers.
Other suggestions:
This book would also be a great small group book for increasing sentence fluency while reading. Or to model poetry conventions.
June 20, 2021
I am giving this book 3 stars because I love Gary Paulsen and his other books on dogsledding. This one I believe is meant for a children's book to capture the joy of dogsledding at night. An adult familiar with his other books and a good background in sledding would get it and probably feel it. The illustrations are nice. Unfortunately, if I was reading it to a child, depending on their age, it may be tough to hook them info it with nothing but the feeling and beauty of riding a dog sled at night.
February 24, 2025
I ordered the wrong book and I am delighted I did. This book is incredibly charming and poetic. The illustrations are whimsical and delightful.
The delight of riding with your dogs through solely snow in a world of your own was present on every page. I am in the wrong country to ever be able to ride a dog sled at night but for the 5 minutes it took to slowly read this book and savour the words and illustrations, I was.
The delight of riding with your dogs through solely snow in a world of your own was present on every page. I am in the wrong country to ever be able to ride a dog sled at night but for the 5 minutes it took to slowly read this book and savour the words and illustrations, I was.
December 18, 2021
“Nothing in running dogs is quite so beautiful as a night run…” says author, Gary Paulsen.
We miss you, Gary Paulsen!
We miss you, Gary Paulsen!
August 5, 2016
Young readers experience the thrill of a "night run" with sled dogs. While I wasn't a big fan of the writing style, I know I would have liked this book as a kid, because I really loved the sled dog breeds.
You really get a sense of how the dogs have been bred to have a great drive to run and pull, and love and anticipate their work. Yes, breed behavioral traits are a real thing!
You really get a sense of how the dogs have been bred to have a great drive to run and pull, and love and anticipate their work. Yes, breed behavioral traits are a real thing!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews