Balto and the Great Race

“Looking from these words back to the silent, wise face of Balto, one wants to know more. Who was Balto? Why is he remembered and talked about to this very day? And what could a dog from Alaska have done to deserve a statue in New York City?”

In the foreword of the novel, Elizabeth Cody Kimmel addresses the reader directly to prompt them to ask questions about what they are about to read and the reasons behind the story’s existence and fame. The foreword contains an illustration of the statue of Balto and foreshadows the importance of the canine.

“Sled drivers, known as mushers, could look at a dog and know in an instant if he was a natural for a team.”

The Bond Between Dogs and Humans is a prominent theme in the novel that is exhibited by the relationship between sled dogs and their mushers. The connection forged between sled dogs and their mushers was an important part of the success of the serum run. In this quote, Kimmel also explains what a musher is, so that when she uses the term throughout the novel, her audience can understand what they are reading.

“After hundreds of generations working with people as guard and work dogs, Siberian huskies have become a gentle breed. They are known for their great devotion to their owners.”

Siberian huskies and their centuries-long relationship with humans is a prime example of The Bond Between Dogs and Humans. Throughout the Serum Run, Balto and the many other dogs who participate demonstrate their devotion to humans through their eagerness to help and endure difficult circumstances.