Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers: Reflections on Being Raised by a Pack of Sled Dogs

( 60 )

Pick Up in Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Paperback (Reprint)
$5.95
BN.com price
Marketplace (New and Used)
from
$0.17
$5.95 List Price (Save 97%)
All (36)  
Used (17)  
New (19)  
Close
Sort by
Page 1 of 4
Showing 1 – 10 of 36 (4 pages)
$0.17
(Save 97%)
Seller since 2006

Feedback rating:

(50880)

Condition:

New — never opened or used in original packaging.

Like New — packaging may have been opened. A "Like New" item is suitable to give as a gift.

Very Good — may have minor signs of wear on packaging but item works perfectly and has no damage.

Good — item is in good condition but packaging may have signs of shelf wear/aging or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Acceptable — item is in working order but may show signs of wear such as scratches or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Used — An item that has been opened and may show signs of wear. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Refurbished — A used item that has been renewed or updated and verified to be in proper working condition. Not necessarily completed by the original manufacturer.

Good
Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy!

Ships from: Mishawaka, IN

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • Canadian
  • International
  • Standard, 48 States
  • Standard (AK, HI)
  • Express, 48 States
  • Express (AK, HI)
$0.75
(Save 87%)
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(22563)

Condition: Good
Giving great service since 2004: Buy from the Best! 4,000,000 items shipped to delighted customers. We have 1,000,000 unique items ready to ship! Find your Great Buy today!

Ships from: Lakewood, WA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • Canadian
  • International
  • Standard, 48 States
  • Standard (AK, HI)
  • Express, 48 States
  • Express (AK, HI)
$0.75
(Save 87%)
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(22563)

Condition: Good
Giving great service since 2004: Buy from the Best! 4,000,000 items shipped to delighted customers. We have 1,000,000 unique items ready to ship! Find your Great Buy today!

Ships from: Lakewood, WA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • Canadian
  • International
  • Standard, 48 States
  • Standard (AK, HI)
  • Express, 48 States
  • Express (AK, HI)
$0.99
(Save 83%)
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(908)

Condition: Good
Good Book is in good reading condition. Cover has wear at edges and corners, and may have creases. Spine has wear at edges and may have creases.

Ships from: Washington, DC

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • Canadian
  • Standard, 48 States
  • Standard (AK, HI)
  • Express, 48 States
  • Express (AK, HI)
$1.01
(Save 83%)
Seller since 2011

Feedback rating:

(316)

Condition: Like New
PAPERBACK Fine 0152061037 May have a remainder mark FROM A COMPANY YOU TRUST, HUGE SELECTION. RELIABLE CUSTOMER SERVICE! ! HASSLE FREE RETURN POLICY, SATISFACTION GURANTEED****

Ships from: Philadelphia, PA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • Canadian
  • International
  • Standard, 48 States
  • Standard (AK, HI)
  • Express, 48 States
  • Express (AK, HI)
$1.01
(Save 83%)
Seller since 2012

Feedback rating:

(101)

Condition: Like New
PAPERBACK Fine 0152061037 Ships Fast. All standard orders delivered within 5 to 12 business days. May have a remainder mark.

Ships from: Southampton, PA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • Canadian
  • International
  • Standard, 48 States
  • Standard (AK, HI)
  • Express, 48 States
  • Express (AK, HI)
$1.49
(Save 75%)
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(474)

Condition: New
8/1/2007 Paperback New 0152061037.

Ships from: Philadelphia, PA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • Canadian
  • International
  • Standard, 48 States
  • Standard (AK, HI)
  • Express, 48 States
  • Express (AK, HI)
$1.49
(Save 75%)
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(1776)

Condition: New
8/1/2007 Paperback New 0152061037 Ships Within 24 Hours. Tracking Number available for all USA orders. Excellent Customer Service. Upto 15 Days 100% Money Back Gurantee. Try ... Our Fast! ! ! ! Shipping With Tracking Number. Read more Show Less

Ships from: Bensalem, PA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • Canadian
  • International
  • Standard, 48 States
  • Standard (AK, HI)
  • Express, 48 States
  • Express (AK, HI)
$1.99
(Save 67%)
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(3285)

Condition: Good

Ships from: Lakewood, WA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • Canadian
  • International
  • Standard, 48 States
  • Standard (AK, HI)
  • Express, 48 States
  • Express (AK, HI)
$1.99
(Save 67%)
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(4876)

Condition: Very Good
Appearance of only slight previous use. Cover and binding show a little wear. All pages are undamaged with potentially only a few, small markings. Help save a tree. Buy all ... your used books from Green Earth Books. Read. Recycle and Reuse! Read more Show Less

Ships from: Portland, OR

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • Canadian
  • International
  • Standard, 48 States
  • Standard (AK, HI)
  • Express, 48 States
  • Express (AK, HI)
Page 1 of 4
Showing 1 – 10 of 36 (4 pages)
Close
Sort by
NOOK Book (eBook)
$5.11
BN.com price
$5.95 List Price (Save 14%)

Available on NOOK devices and apps

  • Nook Devices
  • NOOK
  • NOOK Color
  • NOOK Tablet
  • Tablet/Phone
  • NOOK for iPad
  • NOOK for iPhone
  • NOOK for Android
  • NOOK for Android (Tablet)
  • NOOK Kids for iPad
  • PC/Mac
  • NOOK Study
  • NOOK for PC
  • NOOK for Mac

Want a NOOK? Explore Now

Note: Kids' Club Eligible. See More Details.

All Available Formats + Editions

Marketplace From
BN.com
See more formats + editions

Overview

An experienced Iditarod racer, Gary Paulsen celebrates his lead dog and longtime companion, Cookie, in this intimate essay. Paulsen takes readers inside the kennel as Cookie’s last litter of pups grow and learn to pull sleds across the snowy frontier.

     Includes an author's note.

Minnesota author and dog musher Gary Paulsen reflects on the growth of his sled dogs as he and his animals discover the world around them.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Paulsen is at the top of his form in this tribute to his sled dog Cookie, said PW in a starred review. It is easy to cross-shelve this book alongside adult titles, a love story every bit as much as an adventure story. Ages 10-up. (May) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
VOYA
Stories from the life of "Cookie" dominate this book about the lives and training of sled dogs. Cookie was eminent YA novelist Paulsen's "primary lead dog for something close to fourteen thousand miles-trapline, training, and one full Iditarod." She was mother of exceptional pups, a lifesaver of the author more than once, and trainer of other dogs and her owner. Paulsen portrays the relationship of dogs and owners as a joyful relationship of fellow beings on the earth. Sled dogs' lives from conception to birth and from dog adolescence to adulthood are lovingly described. The final chapter portrays another part of life for these beings, the illness and retirement of Cookie and Paulsen, and Cookie's death on a cold winter's night. All readers who are dog lovers, and those involved with nature, particularly dogsled driving and living in a cold northern climate, will enjoy this book. Illus. VOYA Codes: 3Q 2P M J S (Readable without serious defects, For the YA with a special interest in the subject, Middle School-defined as grades 6 to 8, Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9 and Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12).
Children's Literature
Gary Paulsen is not only a terrific author, he is also a "dog musher" who has raced in the Iditarod in Alaska and has raised the sled dogs who became his closest friends. To understand his relationship with his dogs, especially "Cookie", his lead dog, read Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers. When Cookie and her puppies are let loose in Paulsen's small home, the results are both hilarious and disastrous. After suffering a heart attack, Paulsen must give up racing and the dogs, except for Cookie. When her end comes, we feel her loss, too.
The ALAN Review
Teen readers who know Paulsen's other books and his Iditarod adventures will curl up with an old friend here. Paulsen strings together a series of biographical essays that tell the story of his best lead dog, Cookie, her puppies, and the adventures shared by musher and dogs. In Paulsen's signature prose, crisp and clean as a Minnesota winter night, he takes readers into the birthing room to see Cookie and the new pups. We are witnesses to a mother's stubborn determination not to give in to the death of a stillborn pup. Through Paulsen's eyes we see the different role each dog in the team plays as they all take a part in raising the pups. Whether Paulsen is describing the joyful chaos of thirty-six puppies in a small Minnesota house or detailing Cookie's nobility in the face of death, readers are handed a mirror to look at themselves and reflect on the lessons animals have to teach us about living life.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780152061036
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  • Publication date: 8/1/2007
  • Edition description: Reprint
  • Pages: 80
  • Sales rank: 216,131
  • Age range: 10 - 14 Years
  • Lexile: 1280L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 4.50 (w) x 6.80 (h) x 0.40 (d)

Meet the Author

Gary Paulsen
Gary Paulsen

GARY PAULSEN has written nearly two hundred books for young people, including the Newbery Honor Books Hatchet, Dogsong, and The Winter Room. He divides his time between a home in New Mexico and a boat on the Pacific Ocean.

Read an Excerpt

Love

Cookie usually had puppies easily, but they were always so wonderful and special that I worried excessively each time. Considering that she had five litters of never less than eight pups and twice twelve—altogether over forty pups—this constituted a large measure of worry.

She deserved the effort and concern. Cookie was my primary lead dog for something close to fourteen thousand miles—trapline, training, and one full Iditarod—and had on several occasions saved my life. But more, most important, she threw leaders. Sometimes as many as half her pups tended to lead and a few had, like their mother, become truly exceptional lead dogs; dogs with great, unstoppable hearts and a joy to run. It didn't seem to matter if they were male or female—they were all good.

And so I worried.

This time the breeding had been accidental. We had been on a long training run in early fall, and Cookie had temporarily and with great enthusiasm fallen in love with a big, slab-sided half-hound named Rex. Cookie was running lead. It was a first-snow run—the snow was thin and melting rapidly and would be gone in two days, three at most—and it was so warm (thirty degrees) that I was wearing only a jacket and wool watch cap. We were running at night because of the heat (the dogs were most comfortable at ten or twenty below zero) and I had looked down at something on the sled when the whole team stopped dead.

I knew Cookie was in season and would not normally have run her during her time. But I had young and new dogs—Rex was one of them—and I needed her good sense and steadiness to control them while we ran.

Cookie, overcome bywhat could only be described as wild abandon, stopped cold, threw it in reverse, and backed into Rex. If he was surprised, he recovered instantly, and before I could react, they were romantically involved.

I pulled the other dogs away from them to avoid any fights, tied them up to trees, and made a small fire to have tea. Usually these things took time—lasted five or ten minutes—but with Cookie and Rex both in harness she would be anxious and stressful about wanting to run, and I wanted her to see that I had settled in and wanted to remove some of the nervousness so she wouldn't start to fight.

Normally I would have controlled the mating situation better, would have selected a male more to my liking. Rex was very much a question mark. I'd only had him a few days and didn't know much about him, and had I known that this would be Cookie's last litter and that it would be seven of the best dogs—two leaders—that I had ever seen or heard of, I perhaps would have paid more attention.

As it was I ignored them, or tried to. It always seemed to be such a private time for the dogs, the time of mating, and though they were quite open, I in some way felt like an intruder and did not like to watch them.

I turned away and heated snow for tea. The night was still and, consequently, I heard the dogs more than I usually would have. I "heard" the puppies being made.

In truth, much of what dogs are is based in sounds. They are quiet, wonderfully silent, when they run; mile after mile in soft winter nights I have heard nothing but the soft whuff of their breath and the tiny jingle of their collar snaps as they trot along.

But almost all other times they live in sound. They bark, whine, wheeze, growl, and—wonderfully—sing. When they see me come out of the house with harnesses over my shoulder, they go insane, running in their circles, literally bellowing their enthusiasm—some barking, some crying, some yipping, and some emitting a high-pitched keening scream that leaves the ears deaf for hours.

When it rains there is a song, and when it snows or when they want food or when something dies—sad songs, happy songs, duets and trios, sometimes all the dogs trying to harmonize, except the young ones who think they can sing but can't and throw their heads back to try to look adult but sing off-key and with the wrong timing.

They live in sound, always in noise. Perhaps because it is so constant, the art of listening to them falls off, and so many things they say are not heard, are swallowed in the overall sound. (An interesting aside: people know the sounds of their own dogs the way mothers know the cry of their babies. At one checkpoint during the Iditarod during a mandatory layover, some seven or eight hundred dogs were all in an area not much larger than a football field. The din was constant, deafening, and yet if a man or woman inside the building heard the sound of his or her own dog in the cacophony—even if the person was fast asleep—they were up and out the door instantly.)

But this quiet night with the wind gone and even the fire muted somehow by the dark I could hear, and for the first time I think I truly listened to them.

There were some growls, low and soft, envy from the young males who wanted to fight and show they had shoulders and thick necks; quiet whines of interest from others; and then, above all, the soft sounds from Cookie and Rex.

I thought of the word love.

There are, of course, many who would dispute it, many who would say dogs simply mate and that only people love, and it is perhaps true that I would have said the same thing before that night.

But the sounds were sweet, soft, gentle—not whines so much as terms of endearment, courtesy, and hope. They made me think of all the good parts of living and loving; how two can honestly become one; how we have made it all seem pointless with posturing and fashion and frills but that it is not frivolous, it is as old and meaningful as time, and it has all to do with the one thing that we are on earth to do—to make more, to make better, to bring new beings into it, into life.

All there, sitting by the fire while two people—I still cannot think of them as dogs—loved and were, in some way that I could not understand, sacred. All there listening to God making puppies.

Copyright 2002 by Gary Paulsen

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 60 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(52)

4 Star

(6)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(1)

Your Rating:

Your Name: Create a Pen Name or Leave Anonymously

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identiy on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

We're sorry, but penname is already taken.

Please select one of the following:
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

penname is available!

By visiting the BN.com website or marking a purchase on BN.com, a User is deemed to have accepted the Terms of Use.

Continue Anonymously

Welcome, penname

You have successfully created your Pen Name. Start enjoying the benefits of the BN.com Community today.

See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 60 Customer Reviews
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 14, 2012

    Flare

    Same. I only fight if needed or if im going to get killed if i dont. -Flare

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted November 14, 2008

    more from this reviewer

    Reviewed by Bri P. for TeensReadToo.com

    A dog is man's best friend, right? He is when it comes to Cookie, and Gary Paulsen reflects on the wonderful friendship they shared.

    Cookie is the lead dog on Gary's team of sled dogs and has been for a very long time. Gary and Cookie have traveled a lot of trails together. They have even competed in the Iditarod. Cookie has given birth to many puppies but always goes back to work. You might call Cookie a working mother.

    In PUPPIES, DOGS, AND BLUE NORTHERS, Gary Paulsen tells his own story of love and friendship with his canine friend. If the strength and endurance of sled dogs interests you, you will love this book. The road they have traveled is not always smooth sledding; there are plenty of bumps along the way. Children ages ten and up will love to learn more about these amazing dogs and the training that goes into being a successful musher. This is an action-packed adventure and love story of a man and his one very special dog.

    Climb aboard this dog sled -- you won't ever forget it!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted January 16, 2008

    I've been raised by dogs

    This is a great book if you love the outdoors. This book takes place in thje great outdoors of Northern Minnesota. Gary has a sled team and his lead dog has eight pups but one dies 'sigh' and Cookie 'lead dog'is determined to save it. After a while she gives up in grief. Cookie has saved Gary's life a number of times while practicing for the Iditarod. What you read in this book is a true story. I would recommend this book for the more mature level.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted March 30, 2005

    Adventure Writer

    If you like a story with tons of adventure, sad moments, and detail, this is the book for you! Paulson describes his experience with his dogs in a very rich detailed way. Enjoy reading Puppies Dogs and Blue Northers by the Iditarod racer and writer, Gary Paulson.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted February 9, 2001

    A Great Dog Story!

    The story of Puppies, Dogs, and The Blue Northers takes place out in the snowy woods, while the dogs were running for exercise. The main characters are Cookie the dog and her ower. Cookie becomes pregant by Rex(who also was a dog that belonged to Cookie's ower).The problem is that a terrible snow storm comes up and Cookie is due to hve her puppies and most likely the puppies would freeze since their wet when they come out of the mother, but they can't go ino the house because it is to warm for winter dogs and they would die. Cookies ower built a house out of straw bales and Cookie delieved her seven puppies in there, but the eighth one was stillbon. Read Puppies, Dogs, and the Blue Northers if you like a tear jerking dog story.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 25, 2012

    Frisk

    *shrugs* soot yourself *runs out of the clearing*

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 26, 2012

    Zing

    He walks in.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 25, 2012

    Siberia to all

    "I feel really ignored. I just might leave th paxk." He says padding to nighttime result one.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 23, 2012

    I

    Ice walks in smoothly. "Hey guys"

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 21, 2012

    Everest

    Thx snowy! I hope your wifi gets better....

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 24, 2012

    Shadow to sugar

    Hey

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 22, 2012

    Zing

    "I'm on, Sugar."

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 20, 2012

    Zing

    "And Snowy go to result 23. Ill explain everything."

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 15, 2012

    Bue ear

    I understand.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 19, 2012

    SUGAR! READ NOW AMEADITLY NOW!

    AFREET IS GONNATAKE UR HEART! RUN RUN RUN AWAY UNTILL AFREET IS DELT WITH!! GO SUGAR! RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN! ~Oklia the one who first noticed it.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 21, 2012

    Snow crystal

    Yes im wolf pads off to result two

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 15, 2012

    Join?

    Hello im gabby. Im a american cocker spaniel*her brown eyes shine* i am a girl and dont have a mate or pups, but i want some. Can i join? *she patiently waits for an awnser* i may seam really nice but dont get on my bad side...im also a very good hunter and fisher.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 19, 2012

    Zing

    Walks around

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 19, 2012

    SNOWY READ THIS!!!

    *the very fast siberian husky comes in, covered in flowers weeds and mud.* Snowy! There seems to be something controlling Afreet. I just saw her. She was lost inthought but she was nearing a cliff! It might be a demon!!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted May 18, 2012

    Feather to Sugar

    "Okay. See you soon!"

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 60 Customer Reviews

If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)
500 character limit