Togo and Leonhard - by Pam Flowers (Paperback)

About the Book

"This is the inspiring true story of Leonhard Seppala and his lead dog, Togo. Leonhard Seppala came to Alaska in 1900. He learned to run a dog team and within two years had become an expert dog musher. When a tiny, sickly puppy named Togo was born in Leonhard's kennel, no one expected the puppy to live. He didn't die. When he was just eight months old, Togo made Leonhard's team and became his favorite lead dog. In 1925 a deadly diphtheria epidemic threatened Nome, Alaska. Life-saving serum was hundreds of miles away. The only sure way to get the serum to Norme was to relay it across Alaska using 20 dog teams. Togo bravely led his team through raging storms, ove the longest distance, across the most dangerous part of the relay. Togo, the little dog no one expected anything of, helped save Nome and became a hero."--Back cover

Book Synopsis

TOGO and Leonhard is the inspiring true story about the relationship between Alaska's most famous musher, Leonhard Seppala, and his legendary lead dog, Togo. Through Leonhard Seppala's arrival as an immigrant from Norway, to the birth of a tiny, sickly puppy who was not expected to live, this action-packed story follows the evolution of Togo and Leonhard into one of the most extraordinary relationships between a man and dog in the history of dog mushing. They are best known for their participation in the 1925 deadly, diphtheria epidemic that threatened the icebound community of Nome, Alaska. Life-saving serum was relayed to Nome over 674 frozen miles by a series of 20 dog teams. Togo bravely lead his team through raging storms, over the longest distance, and across breaking sea ice on the most dangerous part of the relay. Togo was the subject of the Disney movie, Togo.

The story is told by Iditarod Sled Dog Race finisher Pam Flowers, who mushed her own team over many of the same trails as traveled by Togo and Leonhard Seppala.