Newsy Tuesday: FiveSibes Book Nook Review of It's A "Sled" Dogs Life by Connie Creighton

 

 

It's A "Sled" Dogs Life Books

Written by Connie Creighton

Illustrated by Ashley Wolfe

 "You had me at woof."

~Connie Creighton, It's A "Sled" Dogs Life

 

As an author, blogger, and photojournalist, it's safe to say I love books! I love writing and reading and reviewing them! I'm excited today to bring another edition of our FiveSibes Newsy Tuesday Book Nook Review! Today, I'm reviewing two editions of author Connie Creighton's It's A "Sled" Dogs Life - Summer ~Best Friends~ and Spring~Birthdays! Connie herself was a musher, working 35 years in a career working with the "beautiful, intelligent sled dogs." Her experience comes through in the caring way the stories are told.

 

While my past wonderful book review Husky helpers have now all earned their furangel wings, I'm having a little FiveSibes representative buddy help me out in their stead. And, if you love Husky stuffies...be sure to see below in this post to see the special companion to Connie's books just released and available for a limited time!

 

 

Our FiveSibes stand-in "assistant" Husky is looking over the adorable illustrations!

 

It's A "Sled" Dogs Life books are...in a word—beautiful. These are high quality, hard cover books, for children ages four to 8. But, honestly, any dog lover would enjoy reading to children and grandchildren, or even for oneself! The illustrations created by Ashley Wolfe, are adorable, colorful, and a very engaging partner to the story.

 

 

A new release is Connie's lead book character, "Pal," the Husky sled dog! Pal is a cute 12" stuffy now available in limited qualities! Aren't they adorable?!

Note: While I received the books for my honest review, I have not seen the stuffy Pal, but it sure does look cute in the pics! Choice of a black-and-white Husky or a gray-and-white Husky. If you'd love to purchase Connie's books and/or the Pal stuffy, visit here website HERE.

In the first book, you meet "Pal," a young Husky sled dog who hails from Canada and lives in a "Husky Home," with many other sled dogs. For Pal's adventures, you go right along for the Huskies' action! 

 

In Spring~Birthdays,  along with Pal, you meet new Husky mom "Athena" and her 10 puppies! Within the story text, Connie really nicely explains some real-life tips of caring for puppies, which is wonderful for children to learn in a fun, creative way. 

And then there's the centerfold birthday spread! Oh my, it's so darling! I love it - all howling, happy Huskies singing the Birthday song to the new puppies! The illustration is so festive, you really can imagine yourself at the party complete with the author's words of the Huskies singing, and any Husky lover knows what this sounds like! 

 

Oooowwooooooo!

 

Be sure your children listen to the story closely, because at the end is a great Listening Game based on the story! 

 

My 7-year-old grandson, who was very close with my boy, Wolfie,  absolutely loved these books!
 

 

 In Summer~Best Friends, Pal is back, and so are the spring puppies, who are now six months of age, and together they enjoy fun summer activities such as swimming and playing, but never fighting! 

"Our caretakers watch us play and make sue we all get along well and play nicely together."

~Pal, the Husky

 It's A "Sled" Dogs Life

Again, as with the first book, within the story are some great life lessons for children - socializing, playing together, sharing, and not fighting. The reader also learns a bit about sled dog mushing, what a harness is, some mushing commands, and tags along with Pal to Sled Dog School!

There is a Listening Game at the end of this book, too, so it makes this book another great read followed by a learning discussion with the kids!

 

Hint: These books would make a wonderful addition for any classroom!

 

The back cover of It's A "Sled" Dogs Life

 

 

 Connie Creighton

Photo Courtesy of Connie Creighton 

 

Connie Creighton (née Arsenault) comes from Alberta, Canada and is the daughter of a Alberta Provincial Parks Ranger (fast fact: he is one of the first of three within the entire province at that time), which is where she developed her love of the great outdoors...which, of course, led to sled dog mushing! 

 

In 1983, Connie founded the small, family owned and operated Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours in the Canadian Rocky Mountains of Canmore, Alberta, where she says she had hired her husband and her "entire family." Connie also notes that it was "One of the first touring companies in Canada and perhaps North America. I know everyone else was racing pretty much, which was really fun, but my personality is geared more towards tourism and teaching others."

 

At Snowy Owl, they have always advocated "For the humane and ethical treatment of sled dogs. Since dog sledding is a non-regulated sport, sled dogs can be at risk of exploitation. At Snowy Owl we treat and care for our sled dogs as 'working pets' rather than 'working dogs.' This ensures a pack of personable, happy, healthy, and trustworthy companions!"

 

"My dream was to create wonderful movies and stories to entertain everyone. One thing I developed as a result was a very broad, intense, vivid imagination, forever creating through this beautiful gift bestowed to me with my imaginary camera."

~Connie Creighton, Author,

Retired Musher & Founder of Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours

 

And when the Snowy Owl sled dogs retire, they have a wonderful adoption program! "Each dog in our pack is unique and individual and because we do not force our dogs to participate in our sled dog tours, they have the freedom and choice to choose when they are ready to hang up their harness. We are against culling 'unwanted' or no longer 'useful' dogs as some like to call them. No matter how old or whether they want to be a sled dog or not, we re-home them. If for some reason we cannot find a certain dog a home, they stay with us for the duration of their life. They often become the resident cabin dogs moving around to all our staff’s homes for sleep overs and or heading out on day-time adventures. We believe that our dogs have earned a wonderful retirement."

 

Connie loved "Creating dog sledding 'Snowy Owl' style because it was very real and unique, not copied or fabricated in any way. Its design came straight from my heart and a life changing gift of vision. I especially enjoyed sharing the pure, beautiful Canadian wilderness I grew up in with lovely people from all over the world. The dogs, well they were and are the most wonderful, unconditional loving cast. Without them there just wouldn’t be any experience for any of us to enjoy or learn from. And indeed I still love those devoted sled dogs."  

 

 

Some of Connie's gorgeous sled dogs from Snowy Owl were featured in the Disney movie "Togo" (they portrayed sled dogs other than the dogs who portrayed Togo, but Connie's daughter trained the Togo dog in sledding, and two of their Huskies doubled for Togo in the technical sled dog shots!) as well as in the movie "Santa Baby 2," Hallmark's "Love in the Alps," the 2012 Suzuki "Sled" commercial aired during the Super Bowl, and more! 

Snowy Owl's Huskies Are Movie Stars!

 And commercial stars...

 

 

Connie has since retired, but Snowy Owl remains in the family and is now owned by her son, Jereme Arsenault, and his wife, Caitlin, who is the director.

With more than 35 years of experience in the sled dog mushing world, Connie now shares her lifetime of knowledge and love of the sport and Huskies into the very words she writes on paper. Encouraged by many friends and customers to write about her experiences, Connie was inspired to write the series of It's A "Sled" Dogs Life.

 

Being retired sets the perfect time for Connie to write, and her experience sets a perfect backdrop for her books. So, now is the time for her to focus on her books. "I'm always excited about sharing experiences. I believe when we share it helps the entire world, so for me, now is the time since I’ve slowed down enough, lol!"

 

 "My hope is others will be inspired to follow and create their dreams and visions too, beginning with children and working all the way up to the adventures and experiences of those incredible senior and retired sled dogs."

~Connie Creighton, Author,

Retired Musher & Founder of Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours

The things that hold great importance in the mushing world, such as "love, teamwork, the laws of nature and survival in life," Connie weaves into her stories within the pages of her books, bringing alive the fascinating world of Huskies and sled dogs to children.

 

Connie brings so much heart, love, and expertise from her work at Snowy Owl, plus the "many experiences in commercial sled dog guiding, team enhancement programs, touring, instructing, racing, and movies" and it's from these exciting experiences, she shares in her stories staring the books' lead Husky sled dog, "Pal!"  

 

These books are wonderful! And within the fun and exciting world of sled dogs, children will not only be captivated by the world of Huskies and mushing, but will come away learning valuable life lessons as well, along with a furry Husky best friend named "Pal."

 

 

What a wonderful gift set Connie's books and stuffy "Pal" makes!

 

If you'd love to purchase Connie's books and/or the Pal stuffy, visit her website HERE.

 

 You can follow Connie Creighton, Author on Facebook HERE.

"My hope is that everyone takes away everything good that the sled dogs, Mother Nature, and my entire life experience has given me. All the lessons and adventures," offers Connie. "It’s been such a fulfilling journey and my hope is others will be inspired to follow and create their dreams and visions too, beginning with children and working all the way up to the adventures and experiences of those incredible senior and retired sled dogs. All reflected into humanity so all can benefit with great respect."

 

"To learn about life from behind a sled dog team, the values, the lessons, the love, the importance of working as a team in beautiful conditions or harsh conditions, etc. Life essentially."  

~Connie Creighton, Author,

Retired Musher & Founder of Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours

 

 When asked, what is her favorite part of work, Connie replies, "The favorite part of my work has been to dream of and create the most memorable, amazing experiences for guests within the realm of my 'Snowy Owl' vision and with respect to humanity, including the sled dogs, all within our stunning wilderness environments. When I was about five years young, after watching just one movie on television, I was certain I wanted to be a movie producer. My dream was to create wonderful movies and stories to entertain everyone. One thing I developed as a result was a very broad, intense, vivid imagination, forever creating through this beautiful gift bestowed to me with my imaginary camera."

 

So what's up next for this multi-talented sled dog loving-musher-turned-author? "Many more books! Next is It's A "Sled" Dogs Life  Fall and Winter, then on to the teen years and sharing experiences and stories with Huskies at that age where teens can relate to their own lives while learning about a sled dog’s experiences and how those experiences reflect into their own lives. To learn about life from behind a sled dog team, the values, the lessons, the love, the importance of working as a team in beautiful conditions or harsh conditions, etc. Life essentially."

I'll certainly be on the lookout for more books by Connie Creighton!

 

 

 Woo! We here at FiveSibes give this wonderful book a 4 out of 4 Paws Up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To purchase a copies of It's A "Sled" Dogs Life, or to read more about author Connie Creighton, visit her Connie Creighton, Author site HERE. 

 

Be sure to tell her the FiveSibes sent you!

 

 

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