Hockey: The Book for Kids

Dave Jenkinson is Associate Dean of the Faculty of Education at the
University of Manitoba.

McFarlane, a well-known hockey broadcaster and author, has produced a
most readable introduction to the game of ice hockey. The book, although
directed principally to elementary-school readers, will benefit any
child or adult looking for a basic understanding of hockey. Most of the
book’s 37 double-page sections provide factual information about such
aspects of hockey as the rink, player positions, rules and penalties,
and equipment and its selection. Practical advice about training for and
playing the game is provided, along with some history of the sport and
its past and present players, especially those from the National Hockey
League. McFarlane recognizes girls’ participation in hockey by
including special sections for them—he also uses the female pronoun in
many of the generic sections.

The book has black-and-white action photos of nhl players, but most of
the numerous illustrations are cartoon-types. Diagrams effectively
clarify the text. While the book can be read cover to cover, each pair
of facing pages can also stand alone for those seeking specific
information or just wanting to browse. Boxed notes have hockey anecdotes
and bits of interesting hockey trivia. A glossary is also provided, and
an index, which completes this book.

A must purchase for school and public libraries.