Jon Van Zyle, My Colorful Life of Art and Adventure

As a youth, Jon remembers his artistic mother encouraging him and his twin brother to express their creativity. It worked. Both Jon and his twin brother are professional artist today. Jon in Alaska and his brother in Hawaii. His love of the outdoors lured Jon to Alaska and the 49th State has become his inspiration.

Jon Van Zyle chronicles his diverse life in his autobiographic Alaska's Artist Jon Van Zyle: My Colorful Life of Art and Adventure, sharing the adventures of his earlist paintings to his recent work.

"Jon Van Zyle is the only artist in Alaska that buys paint in 55 gallon barrels. Earing the title of Alaska's Artist ist certainly befitting of his talent and passion for the untamed state. The versatility of his artwork and it's reception by Alaskans and international art connoisseurs speaks for itself when trying to describe Jon's uniquely famous position in the art world. Jon is prolific and impassioned with each gallery painting and the illustraions of children's books he depicts through his unique artist's eye."    - Dennis Corrington, Skagway Entrepreneur

CHF 29.80

IDITAROD - The First Ten Years

424 Seiten, 416 Fotos, 95 Originalbilder vom offiziellen Iditarod-Künstler und zweimaligen Finisher Jon Van Zyle. Gewicht des Buches 2,9kg! In englischer Sprache

An anthology compiled be The Old Iditarod Gang

...bursting at the seams with fond memories, hard work, gutsy survival stories, pranks and 1'049 miles worth of amazing Iditarod lore.
- Don Rearden, Author of The Raven's Gift

Mushers and dogs were its heart and purpose. But this adventure needed a cast of thousands, from a banker in Anchorage to a fisherman in Shaktoolik, to a mayor in Nome to a pilot flying dog food into Grayling, to a veterinarian who could field stitch a wicked slash below a sled dog's eye at minus -20^oF in Skwentna. From vital to peripheral, we all had a part.
The Iditarod became a unifying force in Alaska, bringing bush and city, Native and non-Native Alaskans together, creating lifetime friendships, bonds that don't break.
That was the spirit of Joe Redington, right across Alaska. His spirit said: "This Iditarod is a great adventure - come join us!" He hold out the invitation to all willing to dare. In that spirit, in these pages, mushers, artists, writers and volunteers celebrate the first ten years of the Iditarod. Come join us.
- Frank Gerjevic

CHF 89.00

A Polar Bear Journey

llustration: Jon Van Zyle / Text: Debbie S. Miller

In a cozy den protected from the sub-zero blizzard raging outside, a mother polar bear gives birth to two tiny cubs. For three months, the cubs grow stronger, until at last it is time to break out of the den and explore the wild world outside. Hunting, swimming, and travelling across dangerous sea ice are survival lessons the cubes must learn from their mother before they can venture out on their own. This insightful look at the world's most distinctive bear combines a moving story line with intriguing bits of information about the animal and its life in the Arctic. Jon Van Zyle's paintings show the beauty and the fury of the frozen landscape the polar bear calls home. 32 Seiten, durchgehend farbig illustriert, in englischer Sprache. Ab 4 Jahren. Auszeichnung: Booklist's Top Ten Animal Books for Youth.

CHF 39.00

Baby Whale's Journey

Illustration: Jon Van Zyle / Text: Jonathan London

Off the Pacific coast of Mexico, a whale is born in a sea of stars. Swimming with Mama Whale and surrounded by a protective pod, Baby Whale begins to grow and learn. She speaks in creaks and clicks and murmurs. She dives through swirling galaxies of luminous fish. She encounters dangerous orcas and giant squid. Soon Baby Whale comes to know all of the ways of the whales and of the sea. Jonathan London's simple, poetic text captures the tenderness and drama in the life of the endangered sperm whale. And Jon Van Zyle's dynamic illustrations reveal the grace and magnificence of these mighty mammals. Included is an informative afterword and a reader's guide.
36 Seiten, durchgehend farbig illustriert, in englischer Sprache. Ab 4 Jahren.

CHF 39.00

Honey Paw and Lightfoot

Illustration: Jon Van Zyle / Text: Jonathan London

Honey Paw and Lightfoot are given the readers a close-up and compelling glimpse of the magnificient grizzly bears. Readers will be entranced by the simple, poetic text, which follows Lightfoot from newborn bear, no bigger than a hamster, to curious cub to adolescent bear ready to head off on its own. The spectacular illustrations by one of Alaska's premier wildlife artists magnificenty portray the intelligence and strength of grizzly bears. And for readers who want to learn more, there is in an afterword providing detailed informations at th back of the book. 34 Seiten, gebunden und durchgehend farbig illustriert. In englischer Sprache.                                        

CHF 39.00

Raven and River

Illustration: Jon Van Zyle / Text: Nancy White Carlstorm

Raven, black against the white snows of Alaska, swoops through the sky, calling out for the river below to awaken from its icy slumber. One by one, other arctic animals echo Raven's plea. At last the river answers with a murmur that grows steadily louder, until it, too, bursts forth with a playful springtime melody, burbling an gurgling in duet with Raven. Overflowing with the sights and sounds of the Alaskan landscape, Raven and River's poetic text and bold paintings create a unique celebration of spring. 36 Seiten, durchgehend farbig illustriert, in englischer Sprache.                                        

CHF 39.00

The Eyes of Gray Wolf

Illustration: Jon Van Zyle / Text: Jonathan London

Listen carefully and you will hear the wild, untamed music of Gray Wolf as he races along icy ridges, howls at the moon, fiercely defends his territory, and, finally, finds a mate. Readers will be entranced by the simple poetic text, which follows the restless Gray Wolf as he wanders through a winter night, while the spectacular illustrations magnificently portray the grace and dignity of the noble wolf. For readers moved to learn more, a list of organizations is included at the back of the book, along with an afterword that provides more detailed informations on this elusive animal. The Eyes of the Gray Wolf offers an innovation approach to nature books and a dramatic look at a beautiful endangered species. 26 Seiten, durchgehend farbig illustriert, in englischer Sprache.                                                                                 

CHF 39.00

Iditarod Classics

Illustrationen: Jon Van Zyle, Text Lew Freedman

"This Book is terrific. I promise you short of getting on a dog sled, travelling into the darkness and running the Iditarod yourself, this will be the next best thing to being there." Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press

Geschichten über das längste Schlittenhunderennen der Welt, erzählt von Teilnehmenden. Lernen Sie die "verrückten" MusherInnen kennen und sehen Sie, was auf dieser abenteuerlichen Reise, quer durch Alaska, alles geschehen kann. Durchgehend s/w Bilder, davon viele von Jon Van Zyle's Gemälden, jeweils mit erklärendem Text. Jon hat selbst zwei Mal am Iditarod teilgenommen. 136 Seiten, schwarz-weiss illustriert, in englischer Sprache.

CHF 29.00

More Iditarod Classics

Illustrationen: Jon Van Zyle, Text Lew Freedman

Tales of the Trail Told by teh Men & Women Who Race Across Alaska

Do they ever have tales to tell!

Picking up where the best-selling IDITAROD CLASSICS left off, this new collection of insightful and hair-raising stories introduces readers to more of the men and women who brave the annual 1'100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from Anchorage to Nome.

Champions Doug Swingley, Martin Buser, Jeff King and others tell how they came to love the race, how they train their dogs and themselves, and how they challenge the elements of The Last Great Race.

For Alaska heroes such as DeeDee Jonrowe, Emmit Peter and Ramy Brooks, the Iditarod is always punishing but not punishing enough to deter them from trying again next year.

222 Seiten, schwarz-weiss illustrierte, in englischer Sprache.

CHF 35.00

Iditarod Fact Book - A Complete Guide to the Last Great Race

Illustration: Jon Van Zyle / Text: Sue Mattson / Fotos: Jeff Schultz.

The easy-to-use IDITAROD FACT BOOK is filled with fun, fascinating facts and figures about the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race - a wealth of information about the dogs, the mushers, the organizers and volunteers, the sleds and gear, the checkpoints, the trail, plus the complete text of the official Iditarod race rules and policies. 190 Seiten, schwarz-weiss, in englischer Sprache.

CHF 39.00

Iditarod Memories - 25 Years of Posters Art from the last great race

Illustration: Jon Van Zyle / Text: Jona Van Zyle

Iditarod Memories is a nostalgie collection of the first twenty-five annual posters created by Iditarod veteran and popular Alaskan artist Jon Van Zyle to commemorate the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Each poster tells a story - as written by Jona Van Zyle - touching on: a musher's emotions running 1'049 miles and the thrill of crossing the finish line at Nome; the close bond and working relationship between musher and dog against nature; an insider's view of encounters with wolves, frozen rivers, blizzards and northern lights; behind-the-scenes support of volunteers, the Iditarod Air Forces and village checkpoints and the drama of the 1925 Nome Serum Run. English.

CHF 39.00

The Great Serum Race - Blazing the Iditarod Trail

Illustration: Jon Van Zyle / Text: Debbie S. Miller.

The History of the Iditarod Race. Colour Illustrations.

Die historische Geschichte zum Iditarod-Rennen. 40 Seiten, durchgehend farbig illustriert, in englischer Sprache.

CHF 39.00

Kayuktuk

Illustration: Jon Van Zyle / Text: Brian Heinz

An Arctic Quest. Aknik approached his snare hopefully. "This time I will make Father proud", he whispered. "This time I will show them all." His heartbeat quickened, but he feard what he would find. The boy studied the trap. "Empty", he muttered. "Empty again !" What will I tell the camp today he wondered, How will I return with pride ? So begins this original story of a young Inupiat boy who seeks to prove himself worthy of hunting for his village and to silence the taunts of the other village boys. During his quest, Aknik mus draw upon both his courage and compassion as he faces a task that teaches him more about himself and about manhood than he ever could have imagined. 36 Seiten, durchgehend farbig illustriert, in englischer Sprache. Ab 4 Jahren.                                        

CHF 39.00