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Alaska Background

The Iditarod is set against the (much) bigger backdrop of Alaska. This category includes some selected general-purpose reference works to assist non-Alaskans (or even for Alaskans who are not quite familiar with their home state) to better understand the Last Frontier.

The Klondike Fever: The Life and Death of the Last Great Gold Rush

by Pierre Berton

Pages: 457

Publisher: Carroll and Graf, New York (1985)

ISBN: 0881841390

Intended Audience: Middle school and up

This book is included because it is generally regarded as the definitive account of the Klondike gold rush, which was an integral part of Alaska's history as much as the Yukon's. The book is well written and is an excellent read. Dogs, of course, played a key role in the Klondike gold rush, and they are omnipresent throughout the book.

Alaska: A Land in Motion

by Nancy Ferrell

Pages: 200

Publisher: University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks (1994)

ISBN: 1887419004

Intended Audience: Grades 3-6

Hardcover textbook. The Iditarod is mentioned in this superb textbook, but the book's real value is as a general-purpose geography reference for kids. This high-quality book was specially commissioned by the State Legislature and is standard in almost all Alaska schools. Anyone teaching the Iditarod will find this a most useful work. (Many adults can probably learn a lot from it as well!)

Alaska's History: The People, Land, and Events of the North Country

by Harry Ritter

Pages: 144

Publisher: Alaska Northwest, Anchorage (1993)

ISBN: 0882404326

Intended Audience: Middle school and up

A small book with a lot of good stuff inside. This is a collection of short, very well written essays on various key aspects of Alaska history. Fun to read and extremely informative.

The Alaska Almanac: Facts About Alaska (25th Edition)

by Don Graydon (Editor)

Pages: 240

Publisher: Alaska Northwest, Anchorage (2001)

ISBN: 0882405500

Intended Audience: Grades 4 and up

This is truly everything you ever wanted to know about Alaska--zip codes, highway mileages, definitions of everything from ice to the Iditarod. Fun to browse, but an extremely useful reference as well. Arranged in easy-to-use alphabetical format. Updated every year.