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Togo and Leonhard
Thank you for making this book such a success! - Pam Flowers
Pam Flowers is a visiting author who speaks at schools across America and is the author of eight books, including
Togo and Leonhard, the inspring true story about the extraordinary relationship between Alaska's most famous musher, Leonhard Seppala, and his legendary lead dog, Togo . From Leonhard Seppala's arrival in Alaska, to the birth of a tiny, sickly puppy who was not expected to live, this story follows the evolution of Togo and Leonhard's relationship as they form a bond based on love, trust, and mutual respect.
Written by arctic explorer and adventurer Pam Flowers who dog sledded over many of the same trails as Leonhard Seppala and Togo, the story is told in 150 pages plus 13 historic photos and three detailed maps. The author dispells a few myths in this fact-based story.
Leonhard Seppala came from Norway and arrived in Alaska in 1900 where he learned to run a dog team and within two years became an expert musher. In 1913 a Siberian Husky named Dolly was imported into Alaska. In 1916 , Dolly gave birth to her second litter, a single puppy named Togo. When he was just eight months old, Togo made Leonhard's team and became his favorite lead dog.
In 1925 a deadly diphtheria epidemic threatened Nome, Alaska. Life-saving serum was hundreds of miles away and the only sure way to get the serum to Nome was to relay it across Alaska using 20 dog teams. Togo bravely led his team through raging storms, over the longest distance, and across the most dangerous part of the relay. Togo , the little dog no one expected anything of, helped save Nome and became a hero.
Pam Flowers is a visiting author who speaks at schools across America and is the author of eight books, including
Togo and Leonhard, the inspring true story about the extraordinary relationship between Alaska's most famous musher, Leonhard Seppala, and his legendary lead dog, Togo . From Leonhard Seppala's arrival in Alaska, to the birth of a tiny, sickly puppy who was not expected to live, this story follows the evolution of Togo and Leonhard's relationship as they form a bond based on love, trust, and mutual respect.
Written by arctic explorer and adventurer Pam Flowers who dog sledded over many of the same trails as Leonhard Seppala and Togo, the story is told in 150 pages plus 13 historic photos and three detailed maps. The author dispells a few myths in this fact-based story.
Leonhard Seppala came from Norway and arrived in Alaska in 1900 where he learned to run a dog team and within two years became an expert musher. In 1913 a Siberian Husky named Dolly was imported into Alaska. In 1916 , Dolly gave birth to her second litter, a single puppy named Togo. When he was just eight months old, Togo made Leonhard's team and became his favorite lead dog.
In 1925 a deadly diphtheria epidemic threatened Nome, Alaska. Life-saving serum was hundreds of miles away and the only sure way to get the serum to Nome was to relay it across Alaska using 20 dog teams. Togo bravely led his team through raging storms, over the longest distance, and across the most dangerous part of the relay. Togo , the little dog no one expected anything of, helped save Nome and became a hero.
- GenresDogs
168 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2020
2 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 12, 2021
Very nice little book. I knew the story from other books, and especially the movie Togo on Disney Plus streaming. I was actually worried at the start it would just be a re-hash of the movie. But even though I knew the details, I still really enjoyed reading the book. There are additional details in it you don't see in the movie that make it complementary to the movie.
The dangers of crossing Norton Sound are talked about in the book, but I think are much better felt in the movie.
I liked the way all the other drivers in that fist serum run are covered. The author also had a paragraph on the 2nd serum run. To really get the full details of the story, I would highly recommend the book, "The Cruelest Miles: The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic." But Togo and Leonhard was a nice telling of the story and would be a great read with kids. It also has a glossary in the back to discuss terms.
The authors style was pretty straightforward. I didn't find any great prose there that I wanted to copy out to my list of favorite quotes, but kept moving at a nice pace.
For those who don't like dog books with the inevitable sad ending, This book ends with, "Leonhard left Togo with Peg. She gave Togo love, kindness, and excellent care for the rest of his life." So no sting there for you and I don't think I gave up any ending that would spoil the book for anyone.
Lastly I like to mention that I found it funny that Balto wasn't even mentioned. :-)
The dangers of crossing Norton Sound are talked about in the book, but I think are much better felt in the movie.
I liked the way all the other drivers in that fist serum run are covered. The author also had a paragraph on the 2nd serum run. To really get the full details of the story, I would highly recommend the book, "The Cruelest Miles: The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic." But Togo and Leonhard was a nice telling of the story and would be a great read with kids. It also has a glossary in the back to discuss terms.
The authors style was pretty straightforward. I didn't find any great prose there that I wanted to copy out to my list of favorite quotes, but kept moving at a nice pace.
For those who don't like dog books with the inevitable sad ending, This book ends with, "Leonhard left Togo with Peg. She gave Togo love, kindness, and excellent care for the rest of his life." So no sting there for you and I don't think I gave up any ending that would spoil the book for anyone.
Lastly I like to mention that I found it funny that Balto wasn't even mentioned. :-)
June 16, 2020
When engaging young readers, few stories are more effective than a true action-adventure about a dog and a man who together face many challenges including understanding each other.
Decades before Alaska became a state, people and supplies got from one place to another during the winter by dogsled. This historically detailed book brings to life the special relationship between an amazing dog named Togo and his musher, Leonhard Seppala.
This story of Togo’s life and adventures includes competing in sled dog races, carrying people and supplies in sub-zero temperatures, transporting an expedition’s leader across much of Alaska near the Arctic Circle, and performing a critical role in bringing life-saving serum to Nome for which Togo and Leonhard became heroes to a grateful nation.
Children’s book author, Pam Flowers is a dog lover who has been a dog musher on nine Arctic expeditions and raced to the finish line in the Iditarod. She writes from her deep personal knowledge about sled dogs as she brings the drama of this true story to life.
The 7 – 14-year-old age group, as well as adults, can learn much from this inspiring story about Togo and Leonhard.
Decades before Alaska became a state, people and supplies got from one place to another during the winter by dogsled. This historically detailed book brings to life the special relationship between an amazing dog named Togo and his musher, Leonhard Seppala.
This story of Togo’s life and adventures includes competing in sled dog races, carrying people and supplies in sub-zero temperatures, transporting an expedition’s leader across much of Alaska near the Arctic Circle, and performing a critical role in bringing life-saving serum to Nome for which Togo and Leonhard became heroes to a grateful nation.
Children’s book author, Pam Flowers is a dog lover who has been a dog musher on nine Arctic expeditions and raced to the finish line in the Iditarod. She writes from her deep personal knowledge about sled dogs as she brings the drama of this true story to life.
The 7 – 14-year-old age group, as well as adults, can learn much from this inspiring story about Togo and Leonhard.
April 13, 2021
Togo and Leonhard tells the true story of a famous sled dog and his owner, Leonhard Seppala. When a 1925 diphtheria epidemic rampages through the isolated village of Nome, Alaska, Leonhard takes his team, led by Togo on an incredible test of strength, endurance, and courage to relay the needed serum from hundreds of miles away.
Written by Pam Flowers, an accomplished and noted sled dog racer, Togo and Leonhard is told in a simple, easy-to-read narrative that does not skimp on expertise or a love of the life of a musher. It is clear that Togo was a special dog and much-beloved. Old photographs add to the sense of history of a time gone by when survival against all odds was a very real and daily experience.
I highly recommend this very enjoyable and fast-paced story to everyone who loves dogs and enjoys an inspirational survival story.
Written by Pam Flowers, an accomplished and noted sled dog racer, Togo and Leonhard is told in a simple, easy-to-read narrative that does not skimp on expertise or a love of the life of a musher. It is clear that Togo was a special dog and much-beloved. Old photographs add to the sense of history of a time gone by when survival against all odds was a very real and daily experience.
I highly recommend this very enjoyable and fast-paced story to everyone who loves dogs and enjoys an inspirational survival story.
July 6, 2021
You've probably heard of someone having generational talent --- well, Togo was a generational sled dog.
Very good tale describing the life of a musher and what this very special dog accomplished. Explains in detail the ins and the outs of sled dog racing to its youthful audience.
Very good tale describing the life of a musher and what this very special dog accomplished. Explains in detail the ins and the outs of sled dog racing to its youthful audience.
July 13, 2021
Movie is better and a tear jerker, in saying that, it was still an enjoyable read about Togo and his musher Leonhard.
April 7, 2022
Cute and light. Great story.
July 29, 2022
Fun read after mushing dogs while on an Alaskan vacation!
April 14, 2023
I read this book in the spirit of the annual Beargrease marathon, and it didn't disappoint. I've always liked learning about dogsledding, and the story of Togo—one of the greatest lead dogs—and his musher Leonhard Seppala was a great refresher. I also learned more about their famed relay across Alaska during the diphtheria epidemic of 1925. Though it's a nonfiction book, the writing is engaging, like a story someone may tell over a dinner with some photos and maps thrown in to navigate Alaska's treacherous terrain.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews