Laika by Nick Abadzis, color by Hilary Sycamore. New York: First Second, 2007. ISBN: 9781596431010

 

  Annotation: Fictionalized biography of Laika, the first dog launched into space by the Soviets in Sputnik II, telling of training, political pressures and attitudes, feelings of guilt at Laika’s ultimate death

 

  Media: colour, pen and ink

 

  Rating: 5Q/5P

 

    Literary devices:

 

    Onomatopoeia: The author uses onomatopoeia throughout, as when Laika is barking, “Arf, Arf”, “Wof”, when the capsule door is opening, “k-chungg”, and by using bold print sometimes with colour or capital letters, to simulate shouting or stresses on spoken words “The Premier agreed”, “SHE DOES NOW!”

 

  Symbolism: An example of the author’s use of symbolism are the drawings of Laika, floating alone in space, towards the sun, followed by a black image on a strip of white, followed by a blank strip of white—loneliness, and then Laika is gone.

 

  Curricular connections: History, Social studies, Space Race, Ethics, World culture

 

  Grade level: High school  

 

lss 31/7/09

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 TOP TEN. Laika by Nick Abadzis. New York, NY: First Second, 2007. ISBN 978-1-59643-101-0

 

Annotation: Abanzis brings the story of the Sputnik II launch emotionally alive chronicling the life of stray dog Laika, or Kudryavka, her handler, and the ambitions of the Soviet space program.

 

Media: Pen and ink.

 

Rating: 5Q/5P.

 

Curricular connections: History/Social Studies, English/Language Arts.

 

School level: High school.

 

NP 07/04/09

 

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Laika by Nick Abadzis (author/illustrator); Hilary Sycamore, color. New York: First  Second, 2007. ISBN: 978-1-59643-101-0

 

Laika is based on the tragic true story of the dog of the same name that was sent into space by Soviets for the purpose of researching the possibility of human space travel.

 

Media: pen and ink, color

 

Rating: 5Q/3P

 

Literary device utilized (through illustration): symbolism

 

Example: As Laika is depicted floating through space, the background gradually becomes white as her life slips away.

 

Curricular connection: World History, high school level

 

* TOP TEN PICK

 

submitted July 2009 by Josh Mitchell  

 

 

 

 

 

Laika by Nick Abadzis. New York: First Second , 2007.

ISBN: 9781596433021

Laika was the abandoned puppy destined to become Earths first space traveler in the Soviets Sputnik program. Blending fact and fiction, the story shows three lives intertwined in Laikas’ life.

 Media: Pen and Ink Drawings.  Color by Hilary Sycamore

5Q/5P

• Use of onomatopoeia through the text and/or through the illustrations.
• Throughout almost all the graphic novels.

On pages 62-63 of Laika by Nick Abanzis.

D. Guhl Summer 2009

Laika by Nick Abadzis.  New York:  First Second, 2007.  ISBN 978-   159643-101-0.

A touching graphic novel depicting the Soviet Union’s Sputnik II Satellite launch.  The emotional story covers both the scientist’s perspective of the launch and Laika, the mutt chosen to “man” the satellite. 

 

Media:  Color ink

Q5/P4

7-12th

 

Curricular Connection:  Level 7-12^th.  Language Arts, Social Studies, History, Writing.

 

 

D. Balestreri added to PB 7/24/09

 

 

 

Citation:  Laika by Rick Abadzis.  New York: First Second, 2007.

ISBN: 978-1-59643-101-0

Annotation: A moving account of the first dog to be put into Space by the Soviets during the Cold War. Laika is a brave stray who risks it all to make history but his sacrifice proves too much.

Media: Pen and Ink in a graphic novel format

Personal Rating: 5Q/5P

Curricular Connections:  This is a good graphic novel to teach students about the Soviet Space program.  Abadzis goes into depth about the political pressures to be successful with the Space program despite disastrous consequences.  It is also useful to teach students about the rights of animals and the importance of all living things. This story is based on the true story of the 1957 Soviet Space program and Abadzis provides an excellent afterward explaining the background and sources that he used for his book. He also provides good book, video, and Internet sources, so students can study this topic more in depth.  This would be a good book for a History or Political Science class. It would also be a good choice for students who are interested in protecting animals.

Grade Level or Age Range: Middle School to High School

By: Joanne Maher July 23rd, 2009

 

Laika by Nick Abadzis. Color by Hilary Sycamore.New York: First Second, 2007.

ISBN: 978-1-59643-101-0               Subject: Space Race, Soviets, Dogs          Grades: 8-12

Curricular Connection: Useful in social studies classes analyzing the civil war, bibliography included

The story of how a  dog named Laika was the first to travel in space in 1957 is chronicled (while fictionalized) in ink, intertwining three stories.    

Q/P:  5/5:  Dog stories have a built in audience.

BVG,  7/21/09

 

TOP TEN

Laika by Nick Abadzis. New York: First Second, 2007.

ISBN: 978-1596431010

Annotation: Based on the true historical event of the brave little dog who was the first mammal in space, this emotional graphic novel traces the events up to and including the one-way space journey.

Media: pen and ink

Rating: 5Q/5P

RAC 7.21.09

 

 

Abadzis, N. (2007). Laika, New York: First Second. (TOP TEN)

ISBN: 9781596431010

As unique as it is heartbreaking, Abadzis' fictional adaptation of "the first dog in space" uses a historical event to explore humanity, addressing brutality and love in this complex graphic novel.

Rating: 5Q/5P

Ages: Grades 7-10

Media: Pen and Color

Subjects: The Cold War, Science, Animal experimentation/Cruelty, Humanity, Bonds between animals and humans

Literary Device: Symbol: Laika symbolizes the harm to innocents that can arise in a quest for power and a time of "war."

 

km 7/13/09

 

Laika by Nick Abadzis and Hilary Sycamore, ill.  NY:  First Second, 2007.   ISBN 1-59643-101-6

 

Laika, written as a graphic novel, gives life and adds human emotions to this story based on the historical events surrounding the dog who became the first space traveler.  

 

Artwork is computer colorization

 

Themes:  Dogs, Space Travel

 

5Q/5P

 

ggolden

 

7/9/09 

 

 

TOP TEN     Laika by Nick Abadzis. New York: First Second, 2007.

            ISBN: 9781596431010

            Annotation: This graphic novel portrays the life of Laika a dog that was trained and sent to space by the USSR. There are three main characters Laika, her trainer and the engineer. This is a sad book.

            Media: Pen and Color

            Rating: 5Q/5P

Subject: History. Grade 9-12

Armando Rivera 7-05-09

 

Laika, by Nick Abadzis.  New York: First Second, 2007.

 

Summary: This story follows a stray dog who becomes the first mammal orbit the Earth.  Laika (or Kudryavka) was launched into space to by the Russians in 1957.

 

Rating: 5Q, 5P

 

ISBN: 1596431016

 

Medium: Pen/ink (color)

 

Curricular Opportunities: 

• Excellent for English; World History Curriculum; hard for animal lovers to read
• Excellent use of the graphic novel format - conveys emotions, actions, setting beautifully

 Age Group: 7th-10th Grades

 

Potential Obstacles: Could be upsetting for animal lovers :(

 

E.K. 7/1/09

 

 

Laika by Nick Abadzis. New York: First Second, 2007.

ISBN-13:  9781596431010

ISBN-10:  1596431016

Illustrator:  Nick Abadzis, color by Hilary Sycamore

Media:  Color/Pen and Ink

4Q/4P

Annotation:  Laika is loosely based on the recreation of events leading up to the launch of Sputnik 2 and the dog-renamed Laika.  Humanitarianism and the connection shared between animals and people are themes used in Laika.

 

KRF 6/29/09

 

Laika by Nick Abadzis. NY: First Second of Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 13: 978-1-59643-101-0. Q5/5P.

The story of Laika, a brave and loved little dog who perished in space. Nick Abadiz creates a powerful story that will grab your heart. The use of repetition of the lines “good dog. Don’t worry, you can trust me” are extremely powerful in showing us how cruel it is to misuse and innocent life and their trust. This book could be used in History classes’ grades 6-8 since this fictional story does show the true struggle for space exploration between Russia, the United States and the rest of the world at that time.

Laika, by Nick Abadzis. New York: First Second, 2007.

ISBN: 978-1596431010

Annotation: The true story of Laika, a stray dog, and the scientists who used her for their own ends as the Soviet Union readied Sputnik II for launch.

Illustrations: pen and ink; digital color

4Q/3P

DM 6/28/09

 

TOP TEN

Laika by Nick Abadzis and Hilary Sycamore, ill. New York: First Second, 2007.

 

Abadzis, N. (2007). Laika. New York: First Second. ISBN: 9781596431010

5Q/5Q

 

 

Follow the adventures of the Soviet Union’s first astronaut:  a special little dog and the people who cared for her until her sacrificial one-way journey into space. Abadzis utilizes fact as well as fiction in the creation of this graphic novel, which has a great listing of resources on the endpapers.

 

 

Boldly drawn, colorful illustrations reflect the lighter as well as the darker moments of Laika’s life.

 

 

A terrific and tragic story to come out of the Soviet Union’s space program, Laika will support instruction about space exploration as well as the competitive history of space exploration between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War. The book also provides opportunities for debate about the use and sacrifice of animals in science. Although Abadzis weaves fact and fiction, he supplied multiple resources for further study at the end of the book.

 

Theme: Laika’s story has a prominent theme of betrayal. Despite meeting kinder people like the women who found her and the handler in the Soviet Space program, external conditions ultimately determined Laika’s fate. Although Laika was open to trusting those that she encountered, the sullen youth wanted nothing to do with her and later, self-serving ambitious politicos in the Soviet space agency would sacrifice her life for their country’s agenda. Although Laika’s handler was devastated to lose Laika, she felt that she betrayed the dog as much as those in power above her. Nothing good comes from betrayal, especially if you are the one betrayed. Those who feel guilt for their contribution in betraying someone demonstrate that they have a heart; Laika’s handler resigned from the job and her supervisor questioned the necessity of sending Laika on a one-way trip to space.  Acts of betrayal in the form of taking another’s life will, for those with a conscience, most likely haunt them to their grave.  Laika was a special dog, but sadly, humans failed her.  TK 5/2/08

 

TK 4/29/08

 

 

Abadzis, N. (2007). Laika. New York: First Second.

 

ISBN: 1417779322

Age Range: Grades 4 - 8

What the book is about: The true story of the dog who became the first animal in space.  The question of what is the value of life when measured against scientific progress is intimately examined.

Art: Color comic book style art

Genre and Themes: Fiction, History, Space, Animals

Rating: P4/Q5

 

Lesson Plan Two - Laika.doc

 

JMB 04/30/08

 

 

 

 

 

Abadzis, N. (2007). Laika. Color by Hilary Sycamore. New York: First Second.

ISBN-13: 978-1-59643-101-0

 

 

 

A well-crafted blend of fact and fiction, this graphic novel tells the story of a charming, little canine, Laika, who, aboard Sputnik II, became the first live creature in space in November, 1957.  The interplay of Laika’s trainer, Yelena Dubrovsky, the space program scientists and officials, and the status-seeking Russian politicians, set against the backdrop of the Cold War makes the lack of a return journey for Laika not an unexpected development.  The complex story, supported by detailed artwork, make this period in history very accessible as well as enjoyable for readers.

 

Curricular connection:  Space Race/Cold War/ Grade 11/ HSS 11.9 

Artwork: Colored pen-and-ink

 

Subjects: Dogs; Space exploration; Sacrifice; Soviet history

Categories: Non-fiction with some fictionalized parts; Graphic Novel

Age Level Recommendation: High School

 

Rating: 4Q/5P

AAS 5-3-08 

 

Abadzis, N.  (2007).  Laika.  New York: First Second.  1596431016.  5Q/5P.  Artwork is pen and ink.

 

 

A very touching story based on the true life of a stray dog who became the first living creature in outer space.  

 

 

* Grade: 7-9, Subject: Science, Space Exploration.

jwelch 05/06/08

  

Laika by Nick Abadzis. New York: Roaring Book Press, 2007.  978-1-59643-101-0

 

Annotation: A blend of fiction and fact in the intertwined stories of an abandoned puppy, an ex-political prisoner and a lab technician in a pivotal moment in modern history.

Media: colored pen and ink; comicbook style

Rating: 5th-7th 5Q/5P TOP TEN

Curriculum Connection: Upper Elementary: Learning history and cultures through characters students can sympathize with.

 

lvanburen/6-09

 

 

 

 

 

 Citation: Laika by Nick Abadzis. New York: First Second, 2007.

 

 

ISBN: 1596431016

 

 

Annotation: The Soviet Union sacrificed Laika the dog simply to prove that they have triumphed over Capitalism. Laika is sent into space via aircraft without a chance of arriving back safely. 

 

 

Media: Comic book style art in color.

 

 

Curricular Connections: High School History/Social Studies. Subjects- Communism, Cold War, Sputnik, Khrushchev.

 

 

Rating: 5Q/4P

 

S.F 06/21/09

 

 

Laika by Nick Abadzis, ill. New York: First Second, 2007.

This graphic novel tells the adventures of Kudryavka, the Russian dog who is renamed Laika as she becomes the first earthling to travel in space in 1957.

    - ISBN 978-1596431010

    - Media: Colored pen and ink

    - Rating: 5Q/5P

    - Curricular Connections: Grades 7-12, History/Social Studies, Biography

    - *TOP TEN*

 

 DPower 6/25/09

 

Laika by Nick Abadzis and colored by Hilary Sycamore.  New York: First Second, 2007. 

Set in Moscow in the 1950s, Laika, a dog, is the test pilot for Sputnik II.   Laika dies in flight.  Her friendly disposition to her caretakers makes her sacrifice tragic.

ISBN: 1596431016

Media:  Pen and ink with color overlays

Q5/P5

CURRICULUM CONNECTION:  10^th – 12^th world history and government classes

THEME:  IN THE NAME OF PROGRESS

The story of Laika and her handlers in the Soviet Space Program prompt readers to ask themselves what morals have they sacrificed in the name of progress or advancing their own agenda?  Will accomplishing the ends justify the means? 

FBoggs 07/09

 

Laika, by Nick Abadzis. First Second, New York, 2007. 978-1-59643-101-0

Summary: The life of Laika, the first dog in space, is told through her eyes and the eyes of her handler, Yelena.

Analysis: This is beautifully done. The sacrifice of Laika for the sake of a political goal (short summary: Sputnik launches. Khruschev says, "Excellent! Send up another one in time for the anniversary of the socialist revolution, a month from now. And put a dog in it!" Scientists respond, "Uh...yes, Premier! (*panic*)" and they scrap the plans for a re-entry option on the capsule.) is handled without wallowing in pathos or heavy-handed political commentary. Laika's "narration" is a series of wordless dreams appropriate to the mentality of a dog, and when she and the other dogs speak or think it is only through the imaginings of Yelena. Abadzis includes a very through bibliography and commentary on his research, only possible when records were made public after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Illustrations: Digitally-colored realistic pen-and-ink cartoons.

Curricular connections: 7-12th grade unit on the space race or animal welfare issues.

--SLH

 

Laika by Nick Abadzis. New York: First Second, 2007. ISBN-10: 1596431016

A graphic novel about the satellite Sputnick and Laika, a dog launched into space by the Soviets. A very moving, fictionalized tale concerning animal rights and the Soviet space program.

    - Media: Pen and Ink with Color

    - Rating: 5Q/4P

    - Curricular Connections: Grades 7-10, Social Studies, History

    - Special Category: Laika by Nick Abadzis

CHA 7/31/09