A dog's account of one of the most extraordinary expeditions of all time. "Dog and man can fit together like no others do. Lewis and I had that fit.... How did we get that close? I think the wilderness had something to do with it. Lewis and I would have been close anywhere, but the wilderness brought out the best in both of us. We were made for that territory." In 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set off on a journey to explore the vast territory of the United States west of the Mississippi River. Accompanying Lewis and Clark and their team of explorers through this uncharted wilderness was Lewis' dog Seaman. Lewis and Clark and Me is Seaman's story. From his first meeting with Lewis, to being mistaken for a bear by Indians who had never seen such a large dog, to his encounters with wild animals both familiar and unfamiliar, Seaman's tales are filled with the joys of companionship and the tingling excitement of adventure. Seaman's stories are based information provided in the explorers' journals. The book include many of these direct quotes from the original text as well as a detailed map showing the highlights of this amazing expedition. Grade 3-6-Seaman, a highly intelligent and sensitive dog that accompanied the Corps of Discovery, introduces youngsters to this exciting epic of United States history. The chapters are based on accounts in Lewis's journals, from which a relevant quote closes each fictional episode. The focus is on the canine's encounters with other animals: squirrels, bear, buffalo, beaver. Myers is a dog lover, and that respect comes through in the dignified portrayal of Seaman. Attractive, realistic paintings illustrate the book, giving a feel for the period and, most importantly, a visual personality to Seaman. This title is different in focus, and for a younger age group, than Gail Langer Karwoski's Seaman (Peachtree, 1999) and more readable than Roland Smith's The Captain's Dog (Harcourt, 1999). Nancy Collins-Warner, Neill Public Library, Pullman, WA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Gr. 3-6. The Lewis and Clark expedition spent more than two years exploring the territory west of the Mississippi River accompanied by Meriwether Lewis' huge Newfoundland dog, Seaman. Myers describes the extraordinary journey through Seaman's perspective, using the dog to remember several of his adventures in a descriptive, first-person voice. Each of Seaman's stories is followed by Lewis' journal entry describing the event. Seaman served as hunter, retriever, and guard dog as well as a peacemaker with the Indians, and his story offers an interesting perspective on a familiar piece of U.S. history. Beautifully detailed oil paintings bring each story to life, and a double-page map shows the expedition's route. An afterword explains a misunderstanding about the dog's name, Seaman's epitaph, and his reaction to Lewis' death in 1809. Sources are appended. Karen Hutt Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved "Excerpts from Lewis's journals close each chapter, supplying the historical basis for the dog's adventures. Handsome silhouettes ornament the chapter openers, while numerous oil paintings enliven the pages." - Publishers Weekly Laurie Myers lives in Georgia. Michael Dooling has illustrated numerous books for children. Among them are George Washington: A Picture Book Biography by James Cross Giblin, O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories , and Lewis and Clark and Me by Laurie Myers. He lives in Audubon, New Jersey, with his wife, Jane, and her daughters, Rachel and Lisa.