Description
★ “This simple story of discovery, sport, and friendship is filled with likable characters and innocently joyful moments...Delightful.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Kenyan orphans, Kitoo and Nigosi, spend their days studying, playing soccer, helping their elders with chores around the orphanage and reading from the limited selection of books in their library. When the librarian gives Kitoo a copy of Sports Around the World he becomes fascinated by an image of the Canadian national men's ice hockey team. Then one day the fates align and Kitoo finds a pair of beat-up old roller blades. He teaches himself to skate and dreams of one day playing hockey like the men in his book. But you can’t play ice hockey in Kenya, can you?
The epub edition of this title is fully accessible. Available in French as La soirée du hockey au Kenya.
Author Bio
Danson Mutinda’s parents, Ruth and Henry Kyatha, co-founded the Hope Development Centre orphanage with Eric and Anita Walters in 2007. When Henry passed away, Danson became patron of the program. He and his co-author, Eric Walters, worked together to write this story of two energetic and joyful children who are based on many of the children they work with at the centre. Danson lives in Kikima, Kenya, on the grounds of the orphanage.
Eric Walters is a Member of the Order of Canada and the author of over 130 books that have collectively won more than 100 awards, including the Governor General’s Literary Award for The King of Jam Sandwiches. A former teacher, Eric began writing as a way to get his fifth-grade students interested in reading and writing. Eric is a tireless presenter, speaking to over 100,000 students per year in schools across the country. He lives in Guelph, Ontario.
Claudia Dávila writes, illustrates and designs books for kids of all ages including Bus to the Badlands and Ghost of the Mill House in the Orca Echoes line, and the award-winning graphic novels Luz Sees the Light and Luz Makes a Splash, in which friends find solutions to energy and water crises. She also illustrated the TD Grade 1 Book Giveaway Fast Friends, which was distributed to over half a million children across Canada. Claudia is passionate about stories and themes that encourage children to be strong, thoughtful, compassionate and responsible people. Born in Chile, Claudia spent her childhood in Montreal and Spain and now lives in Toronto with her husband and two children.
Prizes
- BC Books for SchoolsCommended 2021
- Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express AwardShort-listed 2022
- We Are Kid Lit Collective Summer Reading ListCommended 2021
- CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens, starred selectionCommended 2021
Review Quotes
★ “This simple story of discovery, sport, and friendship is filled with likable characters and innocently joyful moments...Delightful.”
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review“Provides readers with opportunities to reflect on their own goals. The theme of this story highlights the importance of how our attitudes are influenced not only by ourselves, but also by the support we have around us.”
— BC Books for SchoolsBiographical note
Danson Mutinda’s parents, Ruth and Henry Kyatha, cofounded the Hope Development Centre orphanage with Eric and Anita Walters in 2007. When Henry passed away, Danson became patron of the program. He and his coauthor, Eric Walters, worked together to write this story of two energetic and joyful children who are based on many of the children they work with at the centre. He lives in Kikima, Kenya, on the grounds of the orphanage.
Eric Walters began writing as a way to get his fifth-grade students interested in reading and writing. A Member of the Order of Canada, he has now published more than 100 novels and picture books. He is a tireless presenter, speaking to over 100,000 students per year in schools across Canada. He lives in Guelph, Ontario.
