Illustrated by Jon Van Zyle
Little Brown & Co, 1994
ISBN: 0-316-57380-9(hardbound)
ISBN: 0-316-57174-1(paperback)
Ages 7 and up
Alaska Author of Nature Books
BOOKS BY DEBBIE S. MILLER:
Illustrated by Jon Van Zyle
Little Brown & Co, 1994
ISBN: 0-316-57380-9(hardbound)
ISBN: 0-316-57174-1(paperback)
Ages 7 and up
AWARDS AND REVIEWS:
1995 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, National Science Teachers Association and Children's Book Council
"A detailed, richly illustrated title. Miller is a natural storyteller and expertly interweaves facts into her narrative. Van Zyle's dramatic paintings...vividly portray seasonal changes in the land and life cycle of the caribou...An exceptional source of information and an outstanding picture book."
- School Library Journal, starred review
"The focus is on the experiences of a mother and her yearling and newborn, as caribou activities are described. Dramatic depictions of their search for food, escapes from attacking eagles and tormenting mosquitoes, and the perils of migrating bring an immediacy to the description of their daily lives. The vividly presented information is enhanced by acrylic paintings."
- Horn Book, Inc.
"...Miller provides information in the text that goes well beyond the picturesque. For example, an illustration showing the caribou mother jumping in alarm is accompanied by text explaining the concurrent release of a strong scent from the animal's hoof glands -- the literal "smell of danger." The oil paintings provide background vistas that will give the book appeal for very young nature enthusiasts."
- Booklist
CREATING THE BOOK:
Over the years our family has observed caribou in many areas of Alaska. A Caribou Journey is based our experiences observing the 129,000-member Porcupine caribou herd within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR. This huge herd migrates back and forth between Alaska and the Yukon and Northwest Territories. They often cross the Porcupine River when they migrate, so they are named after the river, not because they resemble porcupines!
One summer day on the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge, Dennis and I shared the greatest wildlife spectacle of our lives. We looked over our shoulders and spotted 30,000 to 40,000 caribou marching right toward us! Soon the caribou were swarming around us, grunting and bleating, thousands of mothers, little calves and regal bulls. There were so many caribou covering the tundra that it looked like the earth was moving! They swam across the river directly in front of us.
This is one of the many scenes that became a part of A Caribou Journey. We've been fortunate to see caribou mothers nurture their calves, run from predators, escape from mosquitos, climb over mountain passes, and swim across swift rivers. All of these experiences are first documented in my journal, and then I do additional scientific research when I get home.
I wrote A Caribou Journey because of our daughter, Robin. When she was five, she wanted to learn more about caribou. We tried to find a book in the library that told the life cycle story of the caribou, but couldn't find an appropriate book for her age. This inspired me to write my own book based on our experiences.
FUN FACTS FOR KIDS:
Did you know that....
*More caribou live in Alaska than people! There are 32 caribou herds that roam across Alaska, nearly a million animals! Alaska currently has a population of about 600,000 people. Most of them live in our few big cities such as Anchorage and Fairbanks.
*Caribou and reindeer are the only deer in the world where the females grow antlers every year, just like the males.
*Caribou travel farther each year than all other land mammals in the world, nearly 3,000 miles.
*When caribou walk their hooves click like castanets. The sound is caused by tendons slipping over joints inside the caribou's hooves.
Illustrated by Daniel Van Zyle
Alaska Northwest Books, 1996
ISBN: 0-88240-474-1
Ages 7 and up
AWARDS AND REVIEWS:
"Outstanding from a Learning Perspective"
- Parents Council Selection
"Flight of the Golden Plover is spectacularly illustrated with Daniel Van Zyle's artwork. Young bird enthusiasts will find this a compelling review of the incredible migration of the golden plover between Hawaii and Alaska. This is the first children's book to examine the plover's annual transoceanic migration."
- Children's Bookwatch
"Hawaiian resident Dan Van Zyle and Fairbanks author Debbie Miller have collaborated on a high-interest children's book about the golden plover explaining, in depth, its extraordinary migration patterns. With minute detail and near-reverence, Miller and Van Zyle offer readers a first-of-its-kind look at the behavior and incredible adaptations this unique bird makes in its annual Pacific Rim journey...Authentic and brilliantly drawn illustrations, authoritative text and an amazing subject combine to make an awesome presentation. Applause, applause!"
- Alaska Parenting
"This is a beautiful book in every possible way, with an incredible story to tell of bird migration. Miller's clear, sometimes poetic descriptions of golden plovers are enhanced by Van Zyle's full-page paintings...This book would be a worthwhile addition to any library, institutional or personal."
- Manitoba Library Association
CREATING THE BOOK:
When I first saw a golden plover, some 25 years ago, I was hiking across the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I was struck by its regal beauty, its distinctive whistles, and its ability to successfully lure me away from its nest by performing its "broken wing dance." When I learned that a species of this striking bird made a 3,000-mile nonstop migration between Hawaii and Alaska, I was stunned. I wanted to learn more about this incredible shorebird.
To study the Pacific golden plover, I traveled to Nome, Alaska, where I accompanied biologists Wally and Patricia Johnson who were researching golden plovers on their nesting grounds. I helped the biologists carefully locate the well-camouflaged nests on the tundra. I listened to their breeding calls, watched mating behavior, saw their brown-specked eggs, studied the "broken wing dance," and watched foxes on the prowl. I also traveled to Hawaii, where I often saw golden plovers on their wintering grounds. I observed them snatching insects from lawns, golf courses and open fields, and I watched them form communal roosts at night, on rock-lined shores near the edge of the moonlit surf.
After I wrote the story, I felt very lucky to be introduced to wildlife artist Daniel Van Zyle, Jon Van Zyle's identical twin brother. Jon and Daniel Van Zyle are both outstanding wildlife artists. As a Hawaiian resident, Dan knew the golden plover well, as they were in his backyard during much of the year. He also had a love and respect for this long-distance flier. We were lucky to find a publisher (Alaska Northwest Books) that allowed us to collaborate on this book.
FUN FACTS FOR KIDS:
Did you know that...
*A plover chick weighs about as much as five nickels?
*Golden plovers travel approximately 3,000 miles on their nonstop migration over the Pacific Ocean, between Alaska and Hawaii. They make the flight in about two days, averaging 60 miles per hour!
*One male golden plover has been studied for 18 years. This particular bird has returned to the same nesting area near Nome, year after year. This means he has flown 18 round trips to Hawaii, covering well over 100,000 miles in his life!
*When the three-month old golden plovers make their first migration to Hawaii they do so with no adult leaders! These birds have inherited the amazing instinct to find their wintering grounds, across thousands of miles of ocean.
Illustrated by Jon Van Zyle
Walker & Company, 1997
ISBN: 0-8027-8474-7(hardbound)
ISBN: 0-8027-7558-6(paperback)
Ages 4-8 years.
AWARDS AND REVIEWS:
"A unique title for young listeners and readers, this book is certain to enhance collections on Alaskan animals, seasons, ecosystems, and life cycles."
- School Library Journal, starred review
"Miller takes a careful look at a temporary water system - a vernal lake in Alaska whose emergence and disappearance each year has given rise to a unique ecosystem. Readers will be fascinated by the existence of such systems."
- Kirkus Reviews, pointer review
CREATING THE BOOK:
Disappearing Lake is located in Denali National Park, surrounded by the majestic Alaska Range. Our family has visited this lake every spring for the past decade. The story is based on our wildlife observations and studies of the area. Our daughters, Robin and Casey, named this place Disappearing Lake because each year they've watched the lake gradually disappear.
Now you see it, now you don't!
(images are coming!)
Vernal lakes are temporary water systems created by rainwater or by snow melting in the spring. Disappearing Lake is one of many vernal lakes and ponds that are scattered across Alaska, and in many regions around the world. As temperatures rise and the snow vanishes, the lakes gradually disappear as the water seeps into the ground and evaporates. What once was a lake or pond, often becomes a meadow.
(image of meadow)
Vernal ecosystems provide important habitats for a fascinating web of life. Fairy shrimp thrive for a few brief weeks, laying their eggs before the water disappears. Migratory birds use vernal lakes as critical resting and feeding areas. Meadows provide foraging habitats for birds and for mammals such as caribou, moose, and voles. Each creature depends on this changing wilderness to meet its own special needs.
(image of kids studying pond life)
Disappearing Lake has always been a magical place for our daughters. Perhaps if you look around your home, school or community, you will discover a lake or pond that disappears. Perhaps you too can discover what lives in this changing habitat. Have fun exploring the natural world around your community!
FUN FACTS FOR KIDS:
Did you know that...
*Alaska has more than three million lakes!
*The largest freshwater lake in Alaska is Lake Iliamna, located on the Alaska Peninsula, just north of Katmai National Park. This enormous lake is 75 miles long and 20 miles wide. It is about the same size as the state of Rhode Island. Can you find it on a map? How do you think it grew to be so big?
*Disappearing Lake is not marked on any map. When you think about it, it doesn't make sense to put this lake's name on a map because most of the year it's not there! Disappearing Lake is only full of water in April, May and June. The water depth varies from 6 to 12 feet, depending upon how much snow the Alaska Range receives.
*One of my funny writing friends thought I should name Disappearing Lake "Honey, I Shrunk The Lake!"
Illustrated by Jon Van Zyle
Little Brown & Co, 1997
ISBN: 0-316-57244-6
Ages 7 and up
AWARDS AND REVIEWS:
"Lovely acrylic paintings accompany this informative and lyrical text that focuses on a mother polar bear and her two cubs. The blue-gray palette perfectly evokes the frozen and forbidding landscape that the animals travel through after leaving their snug den. Polar bear diet, habitat, and parenting behavior are smoothly integrated into the satisfying narrative."
- School Library Journal
CREATING THE BOOK:
This particular book took me north of Barrow, Alaska, to observe polar bears in their sea ice world. This was quite an adventure! I visited the area in May, when the sea ice was moving and open leads were forming. This can be a very dangerous time of year. The Inupiat residents of Barrow had recently harvested a bowhead whale, and a number of polar bears were feeding on the whale carcass.
I traveled out on the sea ice with wildlife biologist Craig George. Craig is the son of Jean Craighead George, the woman who wrote Julie of the Wolves and many other wonderful children's books. Craig introduced me to the habitat of the polar bears as we traveled by snowmobile several miles offshore. I was lucky to observe a mother polar bear and her two cubs -- magnificent creatures! I placed my boot inside the enormous tracks of adult polar bears, saw a ringed seal slip beneath the water, and marveled at the pressure ridges and the jumble of ice that forms when sheets of ice collide together. The sea ice environment was so unlike anything I had ever experienced. I felt as though I was walking on a foreign planet!
Once again, I was fortunate to collaborate with Alaska wildlife artist Jon Van Zyle, who created beautiful acrylic paintings for the polar bear book. Jon did a wonderful job portraying the beauty and drama of the polar bear's world.
FUN FACTS FOR KIDS:
Did you know that...
*A polar bear cub only weighs about one pound at birth, about the same size as a guinea pig.
*Some pregnant polar bears den in snowdrifts on the sea ice. Other bears den in snowdrifts on land.
*The cubs in A Polar Bear Journey were born on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an important wildlife region that has the highest density of land-denning polar bears in America. It is also an area that is threatened with proposed oil development.
*More than 200 members of Congress have proposed that the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge be protected as wilderness. This action would permanently protect the home of the polar bears, caribou, muskox, wolves, grizzlies and many birds.
*You can help protect the home of the polar bears, caribou and other arctic animals by writing your congressman or senator in Washington D.C. Urge them to support the Arctic Refuge wilderness bill. Your letters can make a difference in saving the Arctic!
Illustrated by Jon Van Zyle
ISBN 0-395-96790-2
Clarion Books, 2000
Ages 4-8
AWARDS AND REVIEWS:
"Beginning and ending in winter, this elegant book traces the seasonal changes of an Alaskan river. The descriptive text, filled with peaceful imagery, reveals the life the river supports and its interconnectedness. A small boy observes the drama of wildlife - the moose knee-deep in the river, a kingfisher swooping for salmon, a red fox scavenging along the riverbank..."
-Booklist
"An ecology lession made beautifully simple."
- Kirkus Reviews
"Young children will be drawn to the attractive illustrations and simple story, and older nature lovers will appreciate the more subtle elements like the author and illustrator's obvious affection for and excitement about their subject..."
- School Library Journal
CREATING THE BOOK:
Our family has hiked along the banks of many wild rivers in Alaska. Rivers offer excellent habitat for a great diversity of life. Many plant and animals species can be discovered along our rivers, from salmon and brown bears, to yellow warblers, willows, and moose. Each species is part of an extensive web of life that is linked to the river. River of Life is based on my personal experiences and wildlife observations over the course of the last 25 years. Several rivers in the southcentral region of Alaska are a part of the River of Life story. There may be some plants and animals along the River of Life that you might discover along a river near your own home. Many of Alaska's birds are summer visitors that migrate to the continental U.S., and Central and South America, for the winter season. You might recognize some of these birds in the story.
FUN FACTS FOR KIDS:
Did you know that...
* The Yukon River is the longest river in Alaska, and the third longest river in the United States. The Yukon flows from the Canadian border across Alaska for 1,875 miles before it reaches the Bering Sea.
* There are more than 3,000 rivers in Alaska
* Male brown bears can eat an average of eight fish per day when the salmon are running. One hungry bear was once observed catching 90 fish in one day!
* Our family lives on a ridge above the Tanana River, near Fairbanks. Can you find this river on a map of Alaska?
ISBN: 0-88240-517-9
Alaska Northwest Books, 2000
10th Anniversary Edition
Adult non-fiction
REVIEWS:
"One of the highlights of my life was a visit to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, one of the most extraordinary wilderness and wildlife areas left on earth. Midnight Wilderness captures the essence of its beauty, vastness, and wildlife heritage, but more importantly, it addresses the significance of protecting this national treasure for future generations."
- President Jimmy Carter
"Debbie Miller's book, Midnight Wilderness: Journeys in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge describes this large, isolated wilderness with lyric precision. It is an intimate, knowledgable work..."
- San Francisco Examiner
"There can be few people who know this troubled and lovely land as well as Debbie Miller, and it is that gift of knowledge she brings with a seeing eye and feeling heart."
- Wilderness Magazine
"Miller, a freelance writer and photographer, presents a timely plea for the preservation of the largest wilderness area in the U.S., now threatened by oil and gas development...She describes vividly the wonders of this magnificent 19-million acre preserve in Alaska's northeastern corner."
- Publishers Weekly
"Miller's trips to the refuge are inspiring to those who dream of being truly alone and self-sufficient in the wild..."
- Tampa Tribune-Times
"Debbie Miller's account of her 1,000 mile exploration of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refge is sure to grab the adventurer in all of us."
- San Diego Tribune
ISBN: 0-312-25372-9
St. Martin's Griffin, 2000
Adult non-fiction
REVIEWS:
Alaska, that place of superlatives, harbors only 16 of the United States' more than 500 national wildlife refuges--but those Alaskan refuges, all but two of them roadless, add up to an area half the size of Texas, with one refuge alone taking in more land than the state of West Virginia. The states of the Pacific Northwest comprise another 38 refuges, all but 10 of them open to public visitation. The refuges protect an astonishing range of plant and animal species, from the marine mammals and shorebirds of Washington's San Juan Islands to the spotted owls, jumping mice, and bobcats of Oregon's Willamette Valley. Naturalists Loren MacArthur and Debbie Miller point the way to these essential places, offering notes on when and where to travel and what to do and see when you arrive.
-Gregory McNamee, Amazon.com
Illustrated by Jon Van Zyle
ISBN 0-316-57212-8
Little Brown & Co, 2001
Ages 7 and up
REVIEWS:
"There is danger, drama, and joy as Miller describes the birth of a new calf, encounters with predators and nomadic hunters, and the rigors of annual migration. Acrylic paintings capture the essence of the enormous "walking haystacks" and the harsh terrain in which they lived...Vivid writing and equally impressive illustrations make this an excellent science title for young readers."
-Kirkus
CREATING THE BOOK:
One day a friend handed me a mammoth tooth that he discovered while gold mining in a nearby river. The molar was the size of a brick and weighed about four pounds. This sparked my imagination. How could I hold this giant tooth and not further research these shaggy creatures that lived near my home as "recently" as 10,000 to 12,000 years ago? Researching this book was a challenge. Unlike my other life cycle books, I could not go out an observe wild mammoths. Instead, I visited natural history museums, examined tusks and fossils, interviewed paleontologists, and read books about these fascinating creatures and their closest living relative, the elephant. Through careful research and the help of scientists I pieced together a hypothetical life history story of these amazing animals. For more details on this research and my other wildlife books you can read "Sharing the Journey Through Life Cycle Stories," an article that appeared in the February/March 2001 issue of Book Links, published by the American Library Association.
FUN FACTS FOR KIDS:
Did you know that...
*Based on the frozen contents of woolly mammoths, these animals ate on the average of 400 pounds of grasses, sedges, and other plants per day.
*A newborn mammoth weighed about 200 pounds at birth.
*An adult male mammoth weighed up to six tons with tusks that grew to be 8-9 feet long and averaged 100 pounds each.
*Woolly mammoths had a vast range stretching from Europe, through Siberia and Alaska, and south across Canada into the northernmost regions of the United States. They lived during the Pleistocene period some 10,000 to 250, 000 years ago.
ISBN: 1-57131-263-3
Milkweed Editions, 2001
Adult non-fiction
This is a wonderful book that includes the essays of 32 writers who speak about the importance of protecting the extraordinary natural values of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In addition to my own essay, works of many writers are included in this volume. Authors include: President Jimmy Carter, Margaret Murie and:
Scott Russell Sanders Bill McKibben Rick Bass
Terry Tempest Williams Wendell Berry Barry Lopez
I'm thankful for all of these fine essayists, poets, political leaders, and scientists who joined me in speaking out for the Arctic Refuge. The creation of this book began with a series of phone calls in January, 2001, between Hank Lentfer, Carolyn Servid, and other writers. In the course of just two months Hank, Carolyn, Milkweed Press, and a generous donor joined together to solicit, edit, and print the contributions of 32 writers, a graphic artist, and Ken Whitten, an Alaska wildlife photographer whose dramatic caribou picture appears on the cover of the book. All of the contributions for this volume involve donated time, and proceeds from the sale of this book will be directed to a special Arctic fund set up by the Alaska Conservation Foundation.
The book is available nationally in bookstores, online stores, and through Milkweed Press at 800-520-6455, or visit www.worldashome.org
Illustrated by Stacey Schuett
Walker and Company, 2002
ISBN: 0-8027-8801-7
Ages 3-8
One day I hiked near a forest with my four-year old daughter, Casey. She looked up at a tall tree and asked, "Are trees alive?" I answered yes, and explained that trees were living things. She responded , "But how do they breathe; they don't have noses." Her question inspired me to look closely at the features of trees and compare them to humans. This book describes tree characteristics and celebrates some of the magnificent trees that grow on our planet, along with the diversity of life that surrounds them.
AWARDS AND REVIEWS:
"Responding to her daughter's question about how trees breathe without noses, the author celebrates the common features of trees and humans in this multicultural picture book...The artist uses acrylic paint and gouache to great effect, presenting double-page layouts showing trees and children around the world. Especially appealing are a tropical layout with bananas, cocoa pods, butterfly, bat, boa constrictor, and a smiling face; and an island scene with a sandy beach, seabirds, sprouting coconut, and a young family. End papers show where in the world trees from different pages are found. A feel-good story from the tree-hugging illustration on the front cover to the cozy family picnic at the end."
- Kirkus
CREATING THE BOOK:
The greatest challenge in writing this book was choosing which trees would be featured from our different continents. I also wanted to describe trees that had special features, or that were unusual in some sense. I read books, talked to botanists and foresters, traveled to different continents via the Internet, and visited a number of botanic gardens and arboretums to study different trees.
I also considered some of my personal favorite trees, such as the redwood. I grew up near San Francisco, not far from Muir Woods. The redwood forest was always a magical place to me, where giant trees dwarf humans and reach forever into the sky. Casey and my family have also visited Muir Woods a number of times, always spellbound by these majestic trees.
Other personal favorites included the birch and aspen trees that are a part of my backyard forest in Alaska. Once I hiked through the Ancient Bristlecone Forest of California and felt so humbled by these twisted, wind-lashed trees that can live to be nearly 5,000 years old. The oldest living tree on Earth, the bristlecone pine became a part of the book.
Other trees captured my curiosity and fascination: the baobab tree of Africa, the banyan tree of India, the ribbon gum eucalyptus tree of Australia, and the cocoa tree of South America. Illustrator Stacey Schuett did a fantastic job painting these special trees along with the people and wildlife that depend on these trees for shelter, food, medicine, and other uses. A glossary section at the back of the book includes detailed information and spot sketches about each featured tree for older readers.
PLANT A TREE AND SEND ME A PICTURE:
Each year more and more trees are cut down. After you read this book, find a good place to plant a tree with your family or class. Give your tree a special name, watch it grow, and see what kind of animals visit it. If you send me a digital picture of your tree, I'll place it in a Tree Photo Album on my web site. I wonder how many different trees will be planted? How many animals will find a new home? Go to my Tree Photo Album for directions on how to send a digital photograph, and in what format.
To learn more about planting trees in your state go to the National Arbor Day Foundation web site. National Arbor Day is on the last Friday in April (April 26 for 2002). Each state has an Arbor Day also, usually on the last Friday in April. You can find information about your state's Arbor Day and your state tree at this National Arbor Day Foundation link. Arbor Day is a wonderful day to celebrate the importance of our beautiful forests around the world. I look forward to receiving pictures of trees that you plant, or perhaps there is a special tree in your life that you'd like to share in the photo album on the favorite tree page.
FUN FACTS FOR KIDS:
Did you know that....
* There is one huge banyan tree in India that shades as much as five acres of land, about the size of four football fields
* It takes 35 to 40 gallons of maple sap to make one gallon of pure maple syrup
* The Pacific coast redwood tree grows taller than any other tree in the world, as high as a 37-story building.
* The leaves of the ribbon gum eucalyptus tree in Australia are a favorite food for the koala.
* The double coconut tree on islands near Africa grows the largest seed in the world. Each coconut weighs as much as fifty pounds.
Illustrated by Jon Van Zyle
Walker & Company, 2002
ISBN: 0-8027-8811-4
Ages 7 - 10
AWARDS AND REVIEWS:
"Miller does a thorough job of explaining the different dog teams and owners and how many people and dogs played a part in the rescue despite difficult conditions.Van Zyle's polished paintings of sled dogs in action complement the story well. The official painter of the Iditarod race effectively captures the Alaska landscape, expecially in sweeping vistas of snow, sky, and northern lights. This volume offers a more complete history of the serum race and all the heroic players..."
- Kirkus
"This is an excellent account told with lots of detail and drama"
- School Library Journal
CREATING THE BOOK:
The 1925 serum run to Nome was one of the most dramatic races in Alaska's history. I enjoyed researching the book and used as many first-hand accounts that I could discover, including a copy of one of the original telegrams requesting emergency help for the town of Nome.
All of the mushers in the serum race have died, but four mushers left wonderful taped oral histories about the race. Alfred John, the five-year old boy in the story, still lives in Nenana. As a little boy, he remembers seeing the first relay musher leave for Nome in 50-below temperatures. Alfred and I walked some of the old mushing trail together and I'm grateful that he shared his memories of the serum run and growing up in Nenana in the 1920s.
Leonard Seppala, a famous dog musher who was in the team relay, wrote his own book, Alaskan Dog Driver, which includes his personal account of the serum run. Seppala owned both Togo and Balto, along with many other Siberian Huskies. His book describes the serum race in detail, with lots of information about his favorite dog, Togo. The more I learned about Togo, the more I loved this amazing husky.
A wonderful 95-year old lady named Ingeborg MacMillan contributed the two historic black and white photos of Togo and Leonard Seppala's dog team in the book. Ingeborg wanted children to see real pictures of these heroic dogs. She grew up in Nome and played with Togo and Balto when they were puppies. I'm very grateful for the photos and memories of Nome that she shared with me. Sadly, Ingeborg passed away in September, 2002, but a part of her history lives on in this book.
It was exciting to read all the old news clippings about the serum run. Newspapers all over the country reported on the progress of the serum run. I'm most grateful to the staff at the University of Alaska's Rasmuson Library Archives and the Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum in Nome, for guiding me to many historic sources pertaining to the serum run.
Last, Jon and Jona Van Zyle are both dog mushers and they own many Siberian Huskies. As the official Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race artist, Jon was the perfect illustrator for this book. He has also raced two times in the Iditarod. He and Jona provided lots of expertise regarding dog mushing terms, Siberian Huskies, and the history of the serum run.
FUN FACTS FOR KIDS:
Did you know that...
* More than 160 sled dogs on 20 different teams worked together in a relay race to save the town of Nome from the 1925 diphtheria epidemic.
* Togo and his team ran a total of 261 miles during the serum race - the longest distance of all 20 teams. Togo ran much farther than Balto.
* Togo won many dog races in Alaska and lived to the age of sixteen. His body was mounted and is now displayed at the Iditarod Race Museum in Wasilla, Alaska.
* A statue of Balto was erected in New York City's Central Park in 1925. Balto died in 1933, at the age of fourteen. His body is mounted and housed at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
* Balto became the most famous dog of the serum race because he was one of the leaders of the team that ran the last leg of the serum run relay. He became a symbol for all the heroic dogs.
Illustrated by Jon Van Zyle
Walker & Company, 2003
ISBN: 0-8027-8856-4
Ages 5 - 9
AWARDS AND REVIEWS:
"Miller's text includes not only lyrical messages about light and its partner, darkness, but also references to the reaction of wildlife to the waxing and waning of sunshine: the migration of birds and caribou, the hibernation of bears, the changing coat of the Arctic hare...Van Zyle's superb and quietly beautiful acrylic paintings capture both light and dark in perfect harmony with the text...A winner."
- School Library Journal
"A lovely treatment of a difficult concept and a very special place."
- Kirkus
CREATING THE BOOK:
A few years ago, an editor at Walker Books suggested that I write a book about the light in Alaska and how it changes through the seasons. She noted that few people really understood the dynamics and beauty of our polar light. It was a wonderful idea.
One of the reasons why I love living in Alaska is the light, through all of our seasons. In the winter we don't have much direct sunshine, but we have stunning low-angle light that creates long shadows, lingering sunset colors, and glistening snow. We also experience extended periods of twilight, mountains bathed in alpenglow, moonlight on snow, and the magical northern lights. Winter in Alaska is not truly dark. It is much darker at night in the tropics than in Alaska.
In describing our dramatic, ever-changing light, I decided to focus on the surroundings of my home in Fairbanks and interior Alaska. Light and temperature information on each page reflects Fairbanks records.
I learned about many new terms and phenomena as I researched our glorious light. Sun dogs, sparkles, glints, diamond dust, blinks, alpenglow, twilight, and the dancing northern lights - light conditions that stun us and give Alaska's magnificent wilderness a special beauty.
Through Jon Van Zyle's exquisite acrylic paintings, I hope that readers gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of our light at the top of the world.
FUN FACTS FOR KIDS:
Did you know that...
* On December 21st our family and friends only see the sun for 3 hours and 43 minutes? On this shortest day of the year, known as winter solstice, the sun rises at 10:58 a.m., and sets at 2:41 p.m.
* the word solstice comes from the French words sol(sun) and status (to come to a stop).
* In Fairbanks we have a midnight sun soccer tournament. It is light enough to play soccer games at midnight!
* the northern lights can be seen on many clear, dark nights in Alaska. The lights occur when fast-moving charged particles from the sun mix with other gases in the upper atmosphere above the Earth's magnetic field.
* Jon Van Zyle painted a beautiful picture of a songbird in the May scene of Arctic Lights, Arctic Nights. The species is not named in the text. Can you identify this bird and email me its name?
Illustrated by Jon Van Zyle
Walker & Company, 2006
ISBN: 0-8027-8069-5
Ages 7 - 10
CREATING THE BOOK:
I was inspired to write this book by Everett, a stuffed bald eagle who likes to travel. Everett lives in a 4th grade classroom at Central Elementary School, in Wilmette, Illinois. Every year Everett travels to different states and countries and learns about new environments, people, wildlife, and events. A few years ago Everett came to visit me in Alaska. He went dog mushing, sledding, and he flew to the base of Mt. McKinley, the highest mountain in North America. We really enjoyed showing Everett around. We helped him take pictures with his camera and write notes in his journal about the trip. Everett also went to Southeast Alaska and visited the Tongass National Forest with author-friend, Richard Nelson. Everett was lucky enough to meet some real wild bald eagles at the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve.
Everett's Alaska trips gave me the idea to write a story about a wild bald eagle that travels to many of Alaska's extraordinary places. Big Alaska takes you to special places in Alaska through the eyes of a bald eagle. Jon Van Zyle did a wonderful job illustrating this book as the eagle soars to such places as Tongass National Forest, Glacier Bay, Kodiak Island, Katmai National Park, the Yukon River, Denali National Park, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. There is lots of information in the back of the book about featured places and useful web sites.
FUN FACTS FOR KIDS:
Did you know that...
* The largest land bears in the world live on Kodiak Island in Alaska. They can weigh as much as 1,500 pounds!
* The biggest volcanic eruption ever recorded in North America occurred in Alaska in 1912. The Katmai eruption was 50 times bigger than the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens.
* Valdez gets the most snow of any Alaska community --- an average of 25 feet per year!
* The biggest temperate rain forest on earth is in Alaska, covering much of the southeast region of the state, known as the Panhandle.
Debbie S. Miller
It's
in Fairbanks, Alakska
