Animation Source Forums

Well, you've seen the Balto 1 cartoon, and you've perhaps wondered at the true story it was based on (since they tell you as much in the cartoon and on the cover itself). But most of what you can find about the real Balto, on the internet, are books geared for children.

There are books available, though they are hard to find (and most are probably only available through local Alaskan booksellers).

However, there IS a book, which was published in 2006, which is an EXCELLENT resource! While it still appears to have been written for young readers, it does not talk down or in childish terms. It is a respectable book that has been meticulously researched by the author. The book is titled "The Adventures of Balto: The Untold Story of Alaska's Famous Iditarod Sled Dog", by Patricia Chargot. It was published by a company called Publication Consultants.

There is no better book, available to the mainstream, which can present a clear and thorough look at the real Balto's history, from the opening days of the Great Serum Run of 1925, to Balto's final days in the Brookside Zoo in Cleveland, Ohio. You must get this book if you have any interest in the real history, and finding out how different it is from the story concocted by Universal Pictures and Amblimation back in 1995! Chargot, the author, did EXCELLENT research on this story, using the best sources available, and it is as captivating a read for a teenager or an adult as it might be for an older child. The only odd thing about this book is the title. Balto never ran the Iditarod Trail, and died forty years before the first official Iditarod Sled Race was run. So it is odd for the author to refer to Balto as "Alaska's Famous Iditarod Sled Dog"...unless the publishing company somehow pressed her to accept an amendment to an earlier title she might have had. Given her meticulous and thorough research, it seems unlikely she'd make such a glaring historical error. But in the grand scheme, when you consider the rest of the book, it is insignificant. I own it, and it's a real page-turner!

Here is a link to the publishing company's site, on a page featuring some of their titles (the book is the third one down on the page): http://www.publicationconsultants.com/title_b.htm.

Here's a shot of the cover art:

Yeah, The Adventures of Balto fills in the gaps left by The Cruelest Miles about Balto's post-Serum Run life. Although clearly written for children, there is some good information that most of the books on the Serum Run have missed.
I found out about the book when it had run as a serial in the weekly children's section of the Detroit Free Press in the winter of 2004 (Chargot is a children's writer for the DFP). That is where I found out about its now defunct on-line version.

goodie! I have seen a few books on Balto and wondered which is worth buying, cause from what i hear, some are not too reliable. But thanks Seppala for your advice! I will have to have a good read and look at this book! I want to ask, has it any good historical photos?

For more Balto books, i found a good place to get them is in the Iditarod Website whare i saw quite a few. ANd more on huskys and the history of sled dog racing if you are like me, and very interested in that sort of stuff! THere is true survival stories and more there, take a look, there is lots of great books to choose from and great Balto books too! I hope to get some, and if i do, i will make sure i will write a report/review and tell you what i think of the book!

http://www.iditarodstore.com/browse.cfm/2,139.html
Great, great selection of books! I think i will buy some for myself, they all look so good! ^^

Yeah, it does have some great historical photos in it.

I have perused the Iditarod website, and found it to be very informative...if mostly about the Iditarod itself.

I must admit, I have not yet read The Cruelest Miles, but it is on my to-do list (to date, I've been unable to locate it in any bookstore around here, and none of them seem to be able to order it for me. So I guess I'll have to do it online myself). I've heard very good things about it...and it is nice that there is at least ONE book on this subject, still in print, which is not aimed at children! Thanks, Coaster!

I found The Cruelest Miles to be a well-researched book. It is very detailed and gives one of the most complete accounts of the Serum Run. One of the few faults of the book is that it was written 30 years too late and thus the authors were not able to get any interviews with the Serum Run mushers (The last musher died in 1999).

I got the hardcover edition in 2003. The book should have a cheaper paperback edition now.

Right now I think I am going to buy "Balto And The Great Race" since it's the only one I can find on Ebay. But, I really would love to buy "The Adventures of Balto: The Untold Story of Alaska's Famous Iditarod Sled Dog" and "The Cruelest Miles". The books sound real good, since I don't have a Balto book out. I may not really be a book person, since I just can't take my time and read. I skip alot, but I try my best not too. I plan on buying a Balto book sometime soon.

question: can you find this book at any Chapters/Indigo/Coles store?

Hmmm. I think the only way to find out would be to contact them and ask. Of course, they might be able to order it for you if they don't have it in the stores.