Lewis and Clark and Me: A Dog's Tale

by Laurie Myers, Michael Dooling (Illustrator)

Overview

A dog's account of one of the most extraordinary expeditions of all time.

"Dog and man can fit together like no others do. Lewis and I had that fit....

How did we get that close? I think the wilderness had something to do with it. Lewis and I would have been close anywhere, but the wilderness brought out the best in both of us. We were made for that territory."

In 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set off on a journey to explore the vast territory of the United States west of the Mississippi River. Accompanying Lewis and Clark and their team of explorers through this uncharted wilderness was Lewis' dog Seaman.

Lewis and Clark and Me is Seaman's story. From his first meeting with Lewis, to being mistaken for a bear by Indians who had never seen such a large dog, to his encounters with wild animals both familiar and unfamiliar, Seaman's tales are filled with the joys of companionship and the tingling excitement of adventure.

Seaman's stories are based information provided in the explorers' journals. The book include many of these direct quotes from the original text as well as a detailed map showing the highlights of this amazing expedition.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780805063684
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	08/01/2002
Series:	Lewis & Clark Expedition
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	80
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Laurie Myers lives in Georgia.

Michael Dooling has illustrated numerous books for children. Among them are George Washington: A Picture Book Biography by James Cross Giblin, O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories, and Lewis and Clark and Me by Laurie Myers. He lives in Audubon, New Jersey, with his wife, Jane, and her daughters, Rachel and Lisa.

Table of Contents

	Introduction	xiii
1	The Beginning	1
2	Squirrels	8
3	Bear-dog	16
4	Buffalo Calf	22
5	Beaver	28
6	Buffalo	35
7	Kidnapped	42
8	Deer	49
9	My Favorite Words	55
	Afterword	61

Editorial Reviews

"Excerpts from Lewis's journals close each chapter, supplying the historical basis for the dog's adventures. Handsome silhouettes ornament the chapter openers, while numerous oil paintings enliven the pages." - Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

Lewis and Clark's famous journey began in 1803. Their objective: to explore the territory west of the Mississippi River and report back to President Thomas Jefferson. With them was Meriwether Lewis's dog, Seaman, the narrator of this story for young readers. And, it turns out, Seaman is a good storyteller. It really does feel as if a dog is relating the tale, with such canine details as why dogs twitch when they dream and the abundant sensory impressions of a trip through the wilderness. Young readers will find themselves learning a lot of history and will come to think of Seaman as a regular member of the crew. In fact, by the end of the journey, according to the actual journals the men kept, the men too accepted Seaman as part of their outfit: "Captain Lewis's dog" had become "our dog" by the end of the trek. The dog's-eye view is well done and refreshing, excerpts from Lewis's actual journal enliven the text, and Dooling's beautiful oil paintings seem just right, as full of action, beauty, danger, and majesty as the land they portray. The volume feels like a journal, and the attractive design-with a good map and lots of white space-works well. An afterword offers additional information about the actual dog. Young lovers of history and dog stories will appreciate a volume that provides both. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews