Author: Philip Reeve
Illustrator: Sarah McIntyre
© Date: 2015
Publisher: Random House
Pages: 211
Chapters: Yes
Illustrations: Yes, most every page layout has an illustration
Publisher Recommended Age: 7-10 years
Bonus Activities at End of Book: No, but the names of the pugs are in the endpapers at the back of the book
Summary from Book: Get ready for a ruff, ruff ride!
Far away, in a winter wonderland, an amazing sled race is about to begin. The winner can make one wish, and it will magically come true! Two friends, Sika and Shen, want to win more than anything. But all they have is a pack of yappy, yippy pug puppies.
Ten pugs can’t move their sled. Even with thirty, it doesn’t budge. But what about…SIXTY-SIX? With a little bit of luck, anything is paws-ible!
Note: This review is done from memory. I originally read this awhile ago.
Page Pig Thoughts: What a fun romp through the snow with so many pugs that don’t really belong in the snow, but save the day anyway. Somehow two children and sixty-six pugs find their way through the snow, rescue racers in peril, and earn the respect of their fellow racers. The story was silly and full of adventure while the illustrations added extra entertainment factor. Teamwork definitely wins the day in this story.
Page Pup gives this one two thumbs up.
Use caution for younger or sensitive readers, the kraken suspense could be scary and Sika’s grandfather does die at the end of the story.
Family Unit: Shen was part of a ship’s crew, but finds his place in Sika’s home. Sika lives with her mother and grandfather.
Conflict/Social Issues:
- Sir Basil has lots of money and uses it to cheat his way through the race.
Positive Items:
- Shen and Sika develop good teamwork while they are racing.
- Shen and Sika want to win the race, but still stop to help other racers when they are in trouble. Since they were the slowest sled, they are behind everyone else and find the ones left behind.
- Other racers develop respect and appreciation for Shen and Sika, so they follow along with them but do not race out ahead of them anymore.
Items of Interest:
- Shen was a cabin boy when a storm freezes the ocean. His captain leaves him behind in the snow when he goes back to rescue the pugs from the frozen/crashed boat.
- Sika wants to compete in the Great Northern Race to make a wish for her grandfather who is dying in bed.
- One sled racer is into technology and has robot dogs.
- The rich racer cheats in his attempts to win the race so he can maintain his wealth.
- A kraken does emerge from underneath the ice and attack the sled. The pugs save the day by biting the kraken.
- One sled racer transforms into a yeti from eating too many enchanted noodles. Some of the yetis were other previous sled racers. The rest of the current sled racers were rescued from being permanently changed.
- At the end of the story, Sika’s grandpa goes on one last journey like he had wished. As he is lifted into the air in his bed, Sika and her mother say goodbye because that was him dying/passing away.
- Shen finds his true heart’s desire was to find a new life, and is happy to stay with Sika.
Additional Note: After enjoying this one, I tried Cakes in Space. I did not enjoy that one overly much.