The 2014 Winter Olympic Games are only one month away. On January 7, 2014, Canada’s Olympic men’s hockey team was revealed. It was only four years ago, on home soil, that our men’s and women’s hockey teams won gold and we’re all hoping for a repeat of this next month in Sochi. Hockey has always been considered Canada’s national pastime. Over the years, a number of Canadian kids’ hockey books have been published. In honour of Canada’s Olympic men’s hockey team being revealed, celebrate in your classroom or library with a Canadian children’s book.
The Big Game
Written by Gilles Tibo
Illustrated by Bruno St-Aubin
Translated by Petra Johannson
Scholastic Canada | ISBN 978-1-4431-1943-6
for ages 4-8
When opinions are flying faster than pucks, Nicholas must devise his own strategy to win the championship game against the best team in the league! When he shares his winning strategy with the rest of the team, they can’t help but come out on top. This title is also available in French as Nicolas, joueur étoile.
THEMATIC LINKS: HOCKEY | PROBLEM SOLVING
Buy this book: Amazon
| Canadian Booksellers
Panic in Pittsburgh
(Screech Owls)
Written by Roy MacGregor
Tundra Books | ISBN 978-1-77049-419-0
for ages 9-12
Fast-paced adventure, a colourful setting, and plenty of thrilling hockey action makes Panic in Pittsburgh the irresistible second new book in the exciting re-launch of the much-loved Screech Owls series.
THEMATIC LINKS: HOCKEY | MYSTERY
Buy this book: Amazon
| Canadian Booksellers
Breakaway
Written by Michael Betcherman
Razorbill | ISBN 978-0-14-318214-6
for ages 13 and up
Nick Macklin was a talented hockey player and an A student and he had the greatest dad in the world. His dad was not only there for him after his mom died, he was also a star player for the Vancouver Canucks. But when Nick’s father is convicted of murder and given a life sentence for a crime he says he didn’t commit, the only thing that keeps Nick going is the burning desire to seek justice for his dad. Shorlisted for the 2013 John Spray Mystery Award.
THEMATIC LINKS: MYSTERY | MURDER | HOCKEY | FAMILY
Buy this book: Amazon
| Canadian Booksellers
The Big Book of Hockey for Kids
Written by Eric Zweig
Scholastic Canada | ISBN 978-1-4431-1952-8
for ages 7-12
Who are the “Original Six”? How does the salary cap work, anyway? This book answers all those questions and more, equipping hockey fans with everything they need to know about hockey from its disputed beginnings to the billion dollar industry that it is today.
THEMATIC LINKS: HISTORY | HOCKEY
Buy this book: Amazon