Lucy Tries Hockey (Lucy Tries Sports)

Lucy is back, and this time she's trying a Canadian classic – hockey!

Lucy Tries Hockey is the fourth book in the “Lucy Tries Sports” series. Lucy has previously explored luge in Lucy Tries Luge, (Vol. XXII, No. 3, September 18, 2015) short track in Lucy Tries Short Track (Vol. XXII, No. 17, January 8, 2016) and soccer in Lucy Tries Soccer, (Vol. XXII, No. 2, February 5, 2016) and now she's ready to get out her skates again for a hockey challenge. After enrolling in an introductory course, Lucy learns how to keep safe and have fun on the ice.

Hockey is a beloved subject for many kids (and adults), but Lucy Tries Hockey brings a fresh sense of discovery to the sport that will appeal to readers interested in—though perhaps unfamiliar with—playing. Instead of focusing on the game itself, Lucy is introduced to stick handling, safety maneuvers, and basics of hockey play before she completes an obstacle course on the ice. It's nice that Lucy doesn't jump right into a game that, in reality, requires a lot of instruction and practice. By having her experience these initial training pieces, Lucy’s story is more relatable and makes the sport less intimidating for those who have never before played.

As with the other Lucy stories, Lucy Tries Hockey is written with an energetic rhyming scheme and includes fast sport facts at the end of the book for readers curious to know more. The lively, colourful illustrations by James Hearne once again capture the movement and fun Lucy and her friends have on the ice, and, of course, Lucy continues to be a character with a zest for discovery and a love of being active. Fans of Lucy's other stories will be sure to enjoy this newest sports adventure, and the popular sport of hockey could be a great way to introduce new readers to the series.