The day Leap soared

Sled dog pup Leap goes on her first run with the other dogs in this exuberant debut starring, per an author's note, the real life BraverMountain Mushing sled dog team. Braverman, a dogsledder, writes from Northwoods-based Leap's perspective: "Her favorite thing is fresh, powdery snow. She jumps/ and bounces// and flies through the air!/ WHOOSH!" Bright prose proceeds, describing the other canines' traits--Refried energizes the team with singing, Jenga excels at finding trails--and the subject's worries about distinguishing herself. On Leap's inaugural outing, sled dog booties "make her feet feel funny," and "her belly feels like it's doing flips," but running proves exhilarating. En route, each dog displays its unique skills, and an icy obstacle allows Leap to discover her own gift. Working with vibrant acrylic gouache, When captures the snowy landscape with wide brushstrokes and uses thick multicolored outlining to spotlight the canine subjects' energy. An author's note concludes. Ages 4--8. (Oct.)

A small dog takes a huge leap. True to her name, sled dog puppy Leap spends her days bounding happily through blankets of freshly fallen snow, bouncily biding her time until she, too, can suit up for a run with the team. Each dog brings a different, equally essential skill to the work of mushing, and as too-young Leap greets the pack when they return from their daily hike, she worries--what if she lacks a special talent of her own when it's her time to race? But when the much-anticipated day arrives and Leap clips in for her rookie run, her feet tippity-tap excitedly, any trace of self-doubt eclipsed by her irrepressible enthusiasm. With their new addition in tow, the other dogs take off, buoyed as ever by a confidence borne from specialized expertise; they confront obstacles head-on, sailing easily along icy Northwoods terrain. That is until the team encounters a seemingly insurmountable hurdle, one that only their greenest member can clear. Dogsled racer Braverman's sweet narrative builds a satisfying case for individuality as a community asset, celebrating both the value of teamwork and the discrete strengths that comprise it. Savvy readers will take pride in predicting Leap's unique contribution, while canine lovers will delight in the revelation that the pups depicted are all real-life sled dogs working in northern Wisconsin. When's illustrations are equal parts spellbinding and precious, deftly balancing compositional simplicity with masterful color work. The result is peerless. An absolute pleasure. (author's note)(Picture book. 6-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.