For Laika
The Dog Who Learned the Names of the Stars
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
By two of the co-authors of the acclaimed children’s book From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea: the moving beautifully told story of Laika, the dog who learned the names of the stars. Laika is an orphaned stray dog who lives in the streets of Moscow in the then Soviet Union. Although she is loved by her pack, Laika longs one day to learn the names of the stars, since she knows that all dogs become stars when they die—including her parents. One day, a Russian scientist named Vlad offers Laika the chance to travel to the stars by helping him with an important experiment, an event that will change the entire world.
Part fable, part dog story, part history lesson, young and older readers alike will find themselves captivated by Laika’s brave and loving heart, and by her story, which holds important lessons about world peace, science, and the deep bonds between humans and every other creature with whom we share the planet.
Ages 3 to 8.
This publication meets the EPUB Accessibility requirements and it also meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG-AA). It is screen-reader friendly and is accessible to persons with disabilities. A book with many images, which is defined with accessible structural markup. This book contains various accessibility features such as alternative text for images, table of contents, page-list, landmark, reading order and semantic structure.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Based on Russian space explorations during the 1950s that used dogs as experimental passengers, Thom's story looks deep into the heart of one such hound: likable Laika, part of an affectionate, supportive pack of Moscow strays. Believing that stars are the spirits of dogs who have "gone to heaven," Laika, told that she "will help scientists like me find a way to travel to the stars," hopes to find her family. "Determined to prove that she was brave enough to meet the stars," the dog cooperates with laboratory scientists as they train her for the fatal expedition. Ching's delicate palette of blues, greens, and lilacs creates an otherworldly aura that underlines Laika's love of, and curiosity about, the starry night sky. But the gentle, inspirational voice; the warm relationship that develops between scientist Vlad and Laika; and the romantic portrayal of Laika's act as a choice of which she is proud combine to make her death in space particularly upsetting, especially set off by a straightforward ending ("As it fell, it burst into flames") and an image of an exploding Sputnik 2. Back matter includes an afterword and discussion guide. Ages 3–8.
