River writer

Rivers can't see, but he sure can weave a good story.

Rivers -- the blind dog belonging to Mike Dillingham -- recently unveiled her second book, detailing his adventures in Alaska. "Rivers: Through the Eyes of a Blind Dog, Book Two" is written by Dillingham, through the eyes of Rivers, a blind sled dog.

It comes on the heels of the successful first book, "Rivers, Diary of a Blind Alaska Racing Sled Dog," which developed quite a following not only in Alaska, but also around the globe as many teachers used the book in classrooms as a motivational story (see related story, below).

Dillingham, a Wasilla resident, is a recreational musher who has a warm heart for all of his dogs, but Rivers stands out because of the way the dog has overcome blindness.

In his forward, Dillingham writes that, "Working with Rivers has changed my life in more positive ways than I could ever have imagined. Every day, we receive e-mails from children and adults who tell us that Rivers' stories have inspired or motivated them … He has become one of my heroes."

In "Rivers," you meet the cast of characters that call Dillingham's dog lot home -- Christmas, Lakota, Doc, Sunny and a host of other dogs. Most of the dogs are the same characters as the first Rivers book.

The book -- written for all ages, from children to adults -- uses these sled dogs as a way to tell stories, some of which have valuable life lessons, some that have adventure and some that are just plain fun.

In the chapter "The Sourdough 120," Dillingham takes the reader on a harrowing trip up the trail in which a bear nearly attacks the entire dog team.

Mister Mike, the main character, manages to stop the charging bear on the trail with four shots, but the last shot happens just seconds before the bear attacks, and the bear actually falls into the team, trapping Doc underneath and breaking Mister Mike's arm.

Important lessons are contained in the book as well, and readers in the middle school to young adult demographic will find them important. Obviously, the book is a warm account from a sled dog, but some evils of raising animals are addressed in the book, such as the beating of dogs. In one chapter, animal cruelty is discussed, and the characters do the correct thing and report it to the Alaska State Troopers, following a hotly contested confrontation with the offender.

Other life lessons include courage, friendship and loyalty. Rivers and his friends help find a lost child in a fierce and driving snowstorm, they help find a foster child a permanent home and they spread the joy of Christmas to those who otherwise wouldn't have a joyous holiday.

"Rivers" is an easy read -- you can get through it in a few hours -- and an interesting one as well. Young readers will particularly enjoy the perspective of Rivers telling the story.

If people are interested in Rivers' tale, they can check out his Web site, at http://home.gci.net/~sleddog or e-mail him at rivers@rogershsa.org. Dillingham and Rivers frequently make appearances at book stores, dog mushing events and schools as well.