The Day Leap Soared
by Blair Braverman; illus. by Olivia When
Preschool, Primary    Harper/HarperCollins    40 pp.
10/25    9780063238053    $19.99

Leap is an enthusiastic and bouncy sled dog puppy in the Northwoods who can’t wait for her turn to join the adult dogs on the sled team. Each dog “is special in their own way”: Grinch is strong, Refried likes to sing, Boo is fast, Colbert eats a lot, Jenga is smart, and Donut is brave. Leap worries—what if she’s not special? The day finally arrives when Leap is big enough to run with the team, and any worries she has are swept away by her excitement. After doing a little dance in her brand-new, funny-feeling protective booties, she’s ready to run. When’s illustrations capture both the expressive dogs’ irrepressible love of running and the quiet beauty of the snow-covered surroundings. The dramatically changing light of the setting sun matches the heightened mood as the team, homeward bound, faces a sudden challenge: the ice on the river has broken up and they have no way to cross back over. Jumping around to keep warm, Leap discovers her special skill—and excitedly teaches her friends how to solve their problem. Braverman’s buoyant tale nicely demonstrates how individual differences are essential for creating a stronger and smarter community. An appended note by the author, a seasoned dogsledder, introduces readers to the real Leap and the other canine characters, who are Braverman’s own beloved sled dogs.

From the January/February 2026 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.