Title: Teamwork! Betty the Iditarod Sled Dog
Author: Jack Rotifer
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 979-8-8230-0172-4
Pages: 44
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book / Educational
Reviewer: Beth Adams

Read Book Review

Teamwork! Betty the Iditarod Sled Dog, by author Jack Rotifer must be a true story due to the precise details of names, personalities, and dispositions of a litter of pups. Born from a mother being a Malamute and their dad is a German Shorthaired Pointer, Betty was born on June 6, 2006, in a litter with two female and one male littermates. The puppies frolic with a truly amazing amount of energy, under the constant observation of their human and also the lead dog, watching every action to pick out the best-of-the-best for being sled dogs bred for the famous Iditarod race each year in Alaska.

As the pups grow and gain strength, they are introduced to the teamwork of becoming a sled dog, first by pulling a 4-wheeled cart over dry ground, which doesn’t require as much strength as it does coordination and discipline. The author constantly fills in back-story facts about the methodology of grooming truly impressive sled dogs, while further explaining the tradition of the Iditarod race’s heritage. The race goes from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, and began as a respiratory illness infected residents of Nome in 1925 who needed life-saving medicine from Anchorage at a time when only a dogsled could access the city. This was an amazing accomplishment of human and dog fortitude, which is honored each year by having this competition.

Hero, the lead dog, is personified in this book and this quote which is given to the others on the dog sled team sums up the theme of the story: “It is an honor to run in this race. We show respect to the dogs that have come before us. I expect everyone to do their best! Not everyone can win the race and get the trophy. It’s OK not to win the race, but I do expect every one of you to do your best. Always do your best! That is enough. We are a team. We finish the race as a team. There are times that you may want to quit because it is hard. Hard is OK, but we still have to push on. You will feel quite an accomplishment at the completion of the race. Now let’s go!”

I found it very interesting to learn about the way in which a dog sled is structured, and there is a graphic showing the order in which different talents of each dog are placed in the line. Also, the commands of the “musher” to steer the sled, along with the deeply rooted bond they have with the dogs, shows a synergy of human-canine teamwork and caring for each other.

Teamwork! Betty the Iditarod Sled Dog is created with more galley text than illustrations, along with dividing chapters, giving youngsters a good foundation to read books on their own. It has a heart-warming ending embellished with many factual revelations which educate while entertaining readers. It is an excellent choice for children beginning their own reading experiences, having facts, fun dog characters, and intermittent illustrations to bring their minds into a memorable understanding of the unique intricacies of the world-famous Iditarod. Perfect for fans of animal adventures and real-life heroes on four legs!