A best-seller from its first publication in 1903, The Call of the Wild tells the story of Buck, a big mongrel dog who is shipped from his comfortable life in California to Alaska, where he must adapt to the harsh life of a sled dog during the Klondike Gold Rush. The narrative recounts Buck’s brutal obedience training, his struggle to meet the demands of human masters, and his rise to the position of lead sled dog as a result of his superior physical and mental qualities. Finally, Buck is free to respond to the “call” of the wilderness. Over a hundred years after its publication, Jack London’s “dog story” retains the enduring appeal of a classic. This Broadview Edition includes a critical introduction that explores London’s life and legacy and the complex scientific and psychological ideas drawn upon by London in writing the story. The appendices include material on the Klondike, Darwin’s writings on dogs, other contemporary writings on instinct and atavism, and maps of the regions in which the story takes place.

Studies show that kids who are well-mannered are more confident and successful and have better relationships. What parent doesn't crave that for their child? In this practical book, parents, teachers, and child-care providers will discover the keys to raising well-mannered children--with results in less than six weeks. From training a two-year-old to say "please" to talking with a teenage boy about his treatment of girls, this book unfolds step-by-step techniques for teaching manners. It also shows parents how to instill in their children a true concern for others and encourages them to grab hold of every teachable moment they can to show their children something they can use the rest of their lives.

Teachers have found The Call of the Wild--from the very earliest days of its publication in 1903--to be a novella rich in instructional possibilities in history, geography, and ethics as well as literature. In this resource book for teachers, Daniel Dyer provides an array of activities--traditional and nontraditional--to accommodate a wide range of students, teachers, schools and communities. Dyer’s instructional ideas will stimulate exploration of such subjects as California and Klondike history and geography; tranportation by rail, ferry, steamship, and dog teams; techniques of gold mining; breeds of dogs; and subarctic flora and fauna--as well as the novel’s great literary themes.