“Bouchard trumps our expectations in this winsome tale of how they play hockey in the Far North…there are no winners or loosers, just a bunch of kids who play on and on until the dinner bell calls.” …Kirkus Reviews
When Etienne takes his cousin out to play street hockey for the first time, he has a lot of explaining to do. Street hockey is nothing like ice hockey! Everyone has to wear a number nine Canadiens hockey sweater, buy beyond that, the game has more to do with a fun day in the snow than with winning or losing. ET’s cousin comes away with a talisman and a story worth passing on.
REVIEWS:
The Bulletin of the Centre for Children’s Books – “starred and recommended” “…captures the authentic thrill of a game played simply for the love of it.”
School Library Journal – “There is a death of picture books on hockey, and this one fills a gap.”
Resource Links – The Year’s Best 2002… A terrific celebration and homage to the grand game of street hockey!
The 2003 Best Children’s Books of the Year – The Bank Street College of Education in New York City has released their list of the The 2003 Best Children’s Books of the Year. That’s Hockey has made the prestigious list. For more info. see www.bankstreet.edu/bookcom/
Books for Kids (B.C. Parent) – “David Bouchard has captured the spirit of street hockey in Canada.”
Children’s Books: Kirkus Reviews – “Bouchard trumps our expectations in this winsome tale of how they play hockey in the Far North….Then, just to throw in another move on his audience, Bouchard reveals that the narrator is a girl…”
The Bulletin (University of Illinois Graduate School of Library Science) – “Without the slightest whiff of pedantry or nostalgia, Bouchard captures the authentic thrill of a game played simply for the joy of it, and youngsters with their eyes on league play may find a snow packed lot to be a surprisingly alluring venue.”
AWARDS:
***2003/2004: Nominated for the Chocolate Lilly Award in British Columbia
AUTHOR’S COMMENT:
The successes of our Canadian Olympic Women’s hockey team moves some to tears, others to take up hockey. It has moved me to write That’s Hockey. Like many others, I wanted to participate in this phenomenon: women being invited to participate in what most had traditionally seen as a man’s sport. I wanted to be among those who stood up, waving the flag of change. This is only the tip of the iceberg, for women and for men who know better.
Furthermore, how could I not write a book on hockey. Is there a prairie kid anywhere who has not lived my hockey?
