Puckster’s Christmas Hockey Tournament. (Puckster, #7). Lorna Schultz Nicholson. Illustrated by Kelly Findley. Toronto, ON: Fenn/Tundra, 2014. 24 pp., trade pbk. & epub, $6.99 (pbk.). ISBN 978-1-77049-758-0 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-77049-759-7 (ebook). Kindergarten-grade 2 / Ages 5-7. Review by Alicia Cheng. **½ /4
	Puckster Plays the Hockey Mascots. (Puckster, #8). Lorna Schultz Nicholson. Illustrated by Kelly Findley. Toronto, ON: Fenn/Tundra, 2014. 24 pp., trade pbk. & epub, $6.99 (pbk.). ISBN 978-1-77049-760-3 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-77049-761-0 (ebook). Kindergarten-grade 2 / Ages 5-7. Review by Alicia Cheng. **½ /4

excerpts:

The players and coaches were eating scrambled eggs and oatmeal, but no one was talking. They all looked sad.

“What’s wrong?” Puckster asked.

One of the boys pointed his finger at a television, where a reporter was giving the weather report. “All the highways are closed because of the snow,” he said.

“Oh no!” Puckster covered his face with his paws. “Our parents and friends won’t be here for Christmas!” (From Puckster’s Christmas Hockey Tournament.)



"We're doing great," Puckster said to his teammates on the bench. He slurped down some water and wiped his mouth.

"You're doing great," said Francois. He turned his back to Puckster.

"Yeah. None of us have even touched the puck," moped Charlie. "When we practise, you always tell us to pass the puck. Now you're just hogging it." From Puckster Plays the Hockey Mascots.)

In Puckster’s Christmas Hockey Tournament, Puckster and his teammates are attending the IIHF World Junior Championship. Their tournament is on Christmas morning. Since their families and friends will be joining them for the tournament, everyone can spend Christmas together. However, the best laid plans can go wrong. A snow storm blocks all the highways, and it looks like their families and friends will not arrive in time for Christmas. With everyone sad and dejected, Puckster tries his best to bring out the holiday spirit by pretending to be Santa and gathering gifts. Will this help? Will their families and friends arrive in time for the hockey tournament?

     This story highlights the importance of relationships, such as families and friends, in a person’s life. This is especially true on special holidays, a time of togetherness and thanksgiving. The feelings and emotions the characters feel in the story will definitely resonate with readers, especially those who are unable to spend the Christmas holiday with their families and friends.

     Unlike Puckster’s Christmas Hockey Tournament which is about family, Puckster Plays the Hockey Mascots discusses the importance of team play. Playing against the Mascots, Puckster is determined to win the game and show everyone that he is a hockey pro, even if it means hogging the puck. But, is that the way to win in a team sport? Showing off in front of his favourite hockey players may help him become a professional player, but can Puckster actually win the game alone? Will his teammates still be his friend at the end of the game?

     In Puckster Plays the Hockey Mascots, Lorna Schultz Nicholson again demonstrates that, while playing hockey to your best abilities is vital to success, hockey is still a team playing sport. One person cannot do it alone. Other players are needed in order for a hockey team to succeed and win the game. Puckster learns an important lesson and realizes what it means to be a team player. These two books are recommended for young hockey fans.

Recommended.

Alicia Cheng is a Children’s Librarian at the Vancouver Public Library in Vancouver, BC.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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Updated: October 17, 2014 (hsd)