A small dog stranded on a sheet of ice in the Vistula River in Poland—beyond the reach of people on shore—eventually ends up in the open Baltic Sea. He’s spotted by the crew of a research ship, but the dog falls off the ice floe into the water when he tries to jump into the net they lower. “Oh no! Where is Dog?” In this breathless picture book, author/illustrator Mônica Carnesi dramatizes the dog’s plight with only a few sentences of text per page and superb pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations that underscore the dog’s vulnerability in the cold winter landscape of ice and frigid water. The ship launches a small boat to try to reach the dog, who has clawed his way back onto ice. The relief when the dog is finally plucked from that ice is immense—not just for the dog and his rescuers, but for readers and listeners, too. A marvelous author’s note fills in details of this extraordinary tale based on real events that unfolded over two days during one of Poland’s “coldest winter spells” in January 2010. The sailor who was his rescuer christened the dog Baltic (there is a photo of the two of them), and the rescue ship has now become his home. “When at sea, he enjoys sitting on the bridge, watching the water and seagulls.” (Ages 5–10)

On a cold winter day, a curious dog wandered onto a frozen river, and before he knew it he was traveling fast on a sheet of ice. Many people tried to help, but the dog could not be reached. Finally, after two nights and seventy-five miles, the little dog was saved by a ship out in the Baltic Sea.

The gallant rescue of the little dog nicknamed Baltic made international news. Mônica Carnesi's simple text and charming watercolor illustrations convey all the drama of Baltic's journey. His story, with its happy ending, will warm readers' hearts. An author's note and map are included.