Byrd & Igloo

September 23, 2013
An amalgam of fact and fancy, this account of three expeditions undertaken by aviator and explorer Richard Byrd serves as both an enthralling adventure and a story of the bond between man and dog. Byrd adopted Igloo in 1926 as he set sail for Norway, wherefrom he attempted to become the first person to fly over the North Pole. Seiple (Ghosts in the Fog) chronicles that mission and Byrd’s hero’s welcome back to the U.S., but ignores the famous controversy over whether Byrd actually reached the North Pole. The author periodically imbues Igloo with human observations and emotions; after his owner’s plane crashes into a snowdrift on takeoff, “Igloo felt utter relief when he saw Byrd climb out of the plane.” Seiple also details his harrowing 1927 trans-Atlantic flight and groundbreaking 1928 expedition to Antarctica. Period photographs appear throughout. Ages 8–12.

September 1, 2013
Framing an explorer's expeditions from the viewpoint of a sidekick pet can engage readers, so long as the animal is not overly humanized. In this case, the descriptions of Adm. Richard Byrd's history-making flights over the South Pole and the North Pole are eye-opening, and they are told in tandem with the story of Igloo, the fox terrier Byrd was given in 1926. The accounts of the yearslong preparations and the details of the extreme weather conditions that derailed Byrd's takeoffs more than once are intense. "It was so cold the eggs were frozen in their shells, and [the cook] had to boil them first before he could fry them." There's even a race within a race as Byrd and Roald Amundsen vie to be the first to the North Pole. Unfortunately, the emotions attributed to Igloo occasionally cross over the thin line between fact and imagination: "Igloo watched in horror as the plane crashed into a snowdrift." What make the account work at all are the many quotations from Byrd and others that are folded into the account. Far too many of these are unattributed within the text, giving them the feel of invented dialogue; despite an impressive source list, nothing in the backmatter verifies them. Black-and-white photos add visual interest, but the scrapbook design that frames them is rather precious. Man and dog versus nature is a good read, but this one needs better navigation. (index, not seen) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

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October 1, 2013

Gr 3-6-Readers learn about Richard E. Byrd's arctic adventures from the point of view of the small dog that accompanied him every step of the way. While some background information is provided about the explorer and aviator's earlier years, Seiple's work primarily focuses on the years between 1926 and 1931 when Byrd's dog, Igloo, was with him and during which time he flew over both the North and South poles. Told in narrative style in brief chapters, their adventures read more like a novel than a history book as a great deal of anthropomorphizing of Igloo's thoughts and feelings are included. However, the use of a dog is an excellent gateway into polar adventure for elementary students and makes it a more compelling read. Much of the book draws from primary sources and includes a number of photographs, adding interest and historical credibility, but it is better suited for general-interest reading than report writing. Overall this is a solid and engaging look at Byrd's explorations that will appeal to children interested in history and adventure.-Elizabeth Nicolai, Anchorage Public Library, AK

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2013
Grades 4-7 On a cold, damp morning, as Maris Boggs, the cofounder and director of the Bureau of Commercial Economics, waited for a bus, a stray puppy leaned against her. She couldn't leave him behind. About to undertake his trip to the Arctic, Richard Byrd didn't want a dog either, but Maris convinced him to take the terrier. Thus, on April 5, 1926, the dog joined Byrd and his crew as they sailed for Norway, where Byrd would challenge Roald Amundsen to become the first man to fly over the North Pole. The dog, soon named Igloo, became Byrd's constant companion. In 1928, their second great adventure began: sailing to Antarctica so Byrd could fly over the South Pole. Although from time to time the author tends to ascribe human thoughts and feelings to Igloo, this doesn't detract from the fast-moving, exciting account of his adventures. With plenty of archival black-and-white photos and five pages of source notes, this is a well-researched and welcome piece of narrative nonfiction.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)