Snow Dog's Journey

K-Gr 2—In this tale that is reminiscent of some of Jan Brett's Norwegian stories, a brother and a sister make a dog from snow, and the girl becomes infatuated with their creation. One night the Frost King, "made of snow crystals and icicles" just like dog, comes upon the animal and hopes to make a friend of him. The Frost King blows on Snow Dog's nose, who then blinks his eyes and barks, and goes with the king to his Ice Palace. The king teaches the dog to avoid fire, but Snow Dog misses the children's attention and affection, and finds his way back to their cottage. Anna and Olen take him inside to warm up by the fire. As the girl sits by the sleeping dog all day, the ice melts and is replaced by silky fur. The Frost King sees that Snow Dog has become real through a magic power that he does not possess. Done primarily in blues and golds, the scenes include shining snowflakes, cozy fires, and decorative borders. While it is predictable and saccharine, dog lovers might be drawn to this story.—Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI