February 2008



Sales Benefit Orphans

An African Dog In Alaska Is Subject Of New Book

Jean E. Straatmeyer, a native of Lennox, S.D., has published her second children’s book about the dog she brought back to Alaska after spending a year as a volunteer missionary in Malawi, in southern Africa.

Her first book Tales of an African Dog tells about Alaska Malawi spending his first year in the Presbyterian parsonage near where he was born in the capital city of Lilongwe, Malawi.

In Tales of an African Dog in Alaska, the book begins with the dog’s 11,000-mile flight from Africa to Anchorage and describes Alaska Malawi's joy when reunited with his owners. At his new home in Wasilla, Alaska, the dog reacts to new surroundings, takes his first steps in snow, and has great curiosity about moose and rabbits.

Eventually he gets a taste of a wilderness cabin near Fairbanks with the temperature of 36 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. There Malawi enjoys his first snowmobile ride, romps in the deep snow with booties worn by Iditarod sled dogs, and curls up on a pillow near an old wood stove to keep warm.

This book provides a glimpse of this unusual dog living in rural Alaska. The photos, all taken by the author, depict Alaskan scenery, landscape and animals.

While in Africa, Straatmeyer worked at an orphanage so she dedicated the profit from both books to the care of African orphans. Her first book produced over $3,000 for their shelter, food, and education.

The cost of the book is $12 plus postage at www.amazon.com and www.trafford.com/07-1926. If ordered directly from the author (Straatmeyer@yahoo.com), the cost is $12, including postage.