In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we'll meet hunter, trapper, sailor, sled-dog racer and prolific writer, Gary Paulsen. He's published more than 175 books, for children and adults. Also, polar explorer Anne Bancroft talks to us about how she crossed Antarctica on skis, and became the first woman to touch both Poles.

Jacqueline Briggs Martin won the 1999 Caldecott Medal for Children's Literature for her book "Snowflake Bentley." The book tells the story of a Vermont farm boy who had a life-long obsession with snow flakes. Martin tells Judith Strasser, that Bentley invented ways to photograph snowflakes, defined their structure, and never found two the same.

Journalist Peter Stark tells Jim Fleming about the game he and his friends played on a frozen Wisconsin lake; talks about various kinds of snow; and explains the genesis of his collection of essays "Driving to Greenland." Also, polar explorer Anne Bancroft tells Steve Paulson about her pioneering all-women expedition to the South Pole.

Gary Paulsen, author of more than 175 books for adults and children, including the "Brian" series, tells Steve Paulson that many of his books are based on his own experiences in the North woods, and running the Iditarod. He talks about being attacked by wild animals, writing while he's on a dogsled; and experiencing the wildness of nature in a way that's left him changed forever. We also hear Jim Fleming read an excerpt from "Brian's Return."

Distribution dates:

• week of 03/14/99 - hour 2