Public Libraries

COLOR! CREATIVITY! COLLABORATION!

Get out your crayons and colored pencils, paper mache and clay, paints and brushes, or whichever mediums inspire YOU! Noggin and Karen are gearing up for “COLOR OUR WORLD—SUMMER READING 2025!” Email us today at mymusher@gmail.com to save a date (we’re also booking winter & spring school and public library talks). And while you’re enjoying a sample of amazing mushing artwork created by students and library patrons over the years, click on the PLAY button below the slideshow to listen to Noggin’s all-time favorite song—“Noggin, You’re the One!”—available on our new dog mushing album, TRAIL ANGELS.

  • There’s nothing happier than a sled dog on snow…
  • A sled dog in her bed with many hands stroking her
  • Karen Land and her dog team at the 2002 Iditarod Start Line, Anchorage, Alaska. Pig (R) and Gnome (L) in lead. Photo credit: Jeff Schultz
  • Romano stickers!

Click PLAY here to listen to “Noggin, You’re the One!”

And go to https://peddlersfrench.bandcamp.com/album/trail-angels to hear our other original mushing tunes and purchase your own CD or digital download. Thank you for supporting our truly unique musical collaboration!

60 SUMMER READING TALKS = ADVENTURE, FUN, & NEW FRIENDS

After so many great photos, what else needs to be said??? We had an awesome Summer Reading road trip, visiting public libraries in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee. 60 total talks! THANK YOU to all of the enthusiastic and devoted public librarians out there who put together another amazing Summer Reading season. YOU ARE APPRECIATED! And thank you to everyone who came out to learn about the exciting sport of dog mushing and visit with Noggin and me. We love the opportunity to make new friends and learn more about the communities we visit. Noggin can’t wait for the next tour! Email us now to book a talk—we are already scheduling for Winter-Spring 2025 and even 2025 SUMMER READING!

And don’t forget to check out our new dog mushing album, TRAIL ANGELS…

***Noggin highly recommends the song, “Noggin, You’re the One!”

Purchase a CD or digital download here at https://peddlersfrench.bandcamp.com/album/trail-angels

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LIBRARIES ARE COOL!

LIBRARIES ARE COOL! Spring and Summer Reading 2023 was a blast!

Kentucky, West Virginia, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa… along with meeting so many devoted librarians and enthusiastic readers/patrons, another highlight of our June tour was celebrating Chloe’s 17th birthday out on the road. Chloe loves travel. And we adore her! Here’s to more adventures in the future… MUSH!

shhh… Noggin’s surprise party for her 12th birthday is very soon…

2021: The Last Legs

Noggin, Chloe, and I just wrapped up another unusual season. With vaccination certificates in hand/paw, loads of hand sanitizer, and extra masks, we road-tripped across Kansas and Colorado, giving talks in schools and public libraries. Because of Covid, many of our presentations were given outdoors. We had large turn-outs even at night in 30-degree weather. Everyone was bundled up, and hot chocolate was plentiful. What fun we had! Librarians and teachers are a resilient and creative bunch. I have enjoyed working with them over the last 22 years. I look forward to many more library and school visits in the future.

Now, our sights are aimed up the trail towards 2022 SUMMER READING. OCEANS OF POSSIBILITIES is the next summer reading theme and, believe it or not, this makes a talk about dog mushing the perfect match. Did you know that a great portion of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog takes place on frozen bodies of water? Dog teams traverse frozen lakes, rivers (including 250 miles on the mighty Yukon), and the awe-inspiring BERING SEA! Karen provides a unique perspective to OCEANS OF POSSIBILITIES with stories from her travels across sea ice by dog team to the historic gold-rush town of Nome. Climate change is also a topic that is ever-present when learning about the sport of mushing and Alaska. Email Karen at mymusher at gmail.com for more information and to save a spot on our calendar.

Mushing the Seriously Southern Route… Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado

    Noggin, Chloe, and I traveled to five states in 29 days, giving 25 presentations to thousands of students, library patrons, and mushing fans. We met so many wonderful people! Thank you to the schools and libraries for inviting us to your communities and to all of the enthusiastic dog lovers who attended our talks!

    We’re home now, doing laundry, cleaning out our truck, and repacking for our Midwestern and East coast adventures. Interested in a SUMMER READING talk? We’re booking now for May, June, and July. For more information, email Karen at mymusher at gmail.com.