Little Dog Lost: The True Story of a Brave Dog Named Baltic

by Timothy Paul Phelps, Timothy Paul Phelps (Illustrator)

Overview

On a cold winter day, a curious dog wandered onto a frozen river, and before he knew it he was traveling fast on a sheet of ice. Many people tried to help, but the dog could not be reached. Finally, after two nights and seventy-five miles, the little dog was saved by a ship out in the Baltic Sea.

The gallant rescue of the little dog nicknamed Baltic made international news. Mônica Carnesi's simple text and charming watercolor illustrations convey all the drama of Baltic's journey. His story, with its happy ending, will warm readers' hearts. An author's note and map are included.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101648353
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	01/05/2012
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	23 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Mônica Carnesi (www.monicacarnesi.com) is an artist and librarian, which allows her to combine her love for illustration and passion for children's literature. An NPR story of the dog nicknamed "Baltic" inspired her to share his story with young readers. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mônica now lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with her husband and her own little dog.

Editorial Reviews

Debut author/illustrator Carnesi’s cartoon-styled watercolors and spare text provide a suspenseful yet reassuring account of the real-life rescue of a dog that was swept out into the Baltic Sea on an ice floe in January 2010. Direct, almost halting snippets of narration bring readers in close to the action: “Something is moving in the water! What is it? Is it a bird? No. A fish? No. It’s a DOG!” Modest illustrations in a limited and muted palette of blue, white, red, and brown take audiences right up to the river’s edge to squint at the small figure stranded far out on an ice sheet. The next spread zeroes in on a closeup of the confused canine. The artwork’s perspective continually shifts, giving the tale a cinematic frame-by-frame quality, before settling aboard the Polish ship, the Baltica, that finally rescues the dog. Warm and dry, the dog is christened Baltic, eventually becoming a member of the research vessel’s crew. The book’s small trim size complements the cozy, feel-good conclusion. More details and photographs of Baltic are included in an author’s note. Ages 3–5. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Author/illustrator Monica Carnesi tells the gripping true story of a pooch stranded in January 2010 on an ice floe in the Baltic Sea. No one knows how he got there, but Carnesi's illustrations on the book's title and copyright pages suggest a possible scenario: the dog was chasing squirrels and ventured too far onto thin river ice, which then cracked and floated away. Concerned passersby, firemen and even the crew aboard a research ship attempt to rescue him to no avail. Carnesi's watercolors poignantly capture the little dog's plight, with an especially powerful four-panel spread showing the passage of time, over two full days, as the creature shivers on his small, ever-moving piece of ice. Finally, the research ship lowers a small boat into the water and a lone man is able to save the exhausted mutt, who is then adopted by the researchers and named Baltic. An author's note provides additional details and photos of the real dog and his rescuer. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum

Children's Literature - Mary Quattlebaum

PreS-Gr 3—This child-friendly account of a January 2010 dog rescue in the Baltic Sea will appeal to readers on many levels. Youngsters playing in the snow on the banks of the Vistula River were the first to sight the vulnerable canine stranded on an ice floe. Firefighters were summoned, but their attempted rescue failed, and the imperiled pup floated out to sea. "Dog's thick fur keeps him warm./But Dog is wet and tired and hungry./And he is scared./Don't be scared, Dog!" Luckily, the crew of a research vessel spotted him two days later. Though several efforts failed, causing the pup to fall into the water, he was finally saved by a crew member in a small pontoon. The crew adopted him and named him "Baltic." The book presents a clear problem and gratifying solution in simple, engaging language coupled with appealing watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations; it is an excellent choice for read-alouds. The little brown-and-white protagonist looks vulnerable and pathetic in the water, so small, exhausted, and alone. The artwork is varied and interesting—an otherwise neatly framed picture of the rescuer embracing his new pet depicts him kneeling out of the bottom frame, giving readers the feeling of being in the room with them. Some of the images are shaped like an iceberg and set against a white background. An author's note includes background and color photographs of the real Baltic.—Barbara Auerbach, PS 217, Brooklyn, NY

School Library Journal

A terrifying adventure set against an icy backdrop turns into a heartwarming tale of one canine's remarkable courage and resilience. This sweet picture book recounts the amazing true tale of a dog discovered floating on an ice floe on the Vistula River off Poland in January 2010. No one knows where the animal comes from or how it has found itself in this predicament. Trapped it is, however, as it drifts 75 miles downriver for two days, defying rescue attempts. Finally, a scientific vessel, the R/V Baltica, spots the freezing, sodden, starving animal, and a crewman saves it, not without considerable difficulty. After recovering, the dog is nicknamed "Baltic," and it remains aboard to become a beloved, valued crew member. The story is told simply and charmingly. The author's use of the present tense gives the narrative immediacy, and with very brief sentences, some dialogue and questions posed to readers, Carnesi imbues the tale with a strong sense of drama that will captivate young listeners. Her ink-and-watercolor illustrations are child-appealing and effectively capture the dog's desperation and eventual contentment. An author's note with accompanying photographs places events in context and brings the story to a very satisfying conclusion. This lost little dog will easily find a place in children's hearts. (Informational picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews