Hockey in the Wild

Hockey in the Wild is another entertaining addition to Nicholas Oldland’s “Life in the Wild” series. Beloved beaver, moose and bear are back again, and this time they want to play ice hockey on the pond. However, after two failed attempts to play hockey on the frozen pond, they decide to occupy themselves with activities like napping, singing and eating. After a long wait, hockey season finally arrives, and they need to get in shape in order to play ice hockey.

Hockey in the Wild is a comic tale about the trials and tribulations of playing outdoor hockey on a pond. The characters face excitement when the pond first freezes over. However, despite falling through the thin ice and being fully immersed under the water, they return the next day, but this time fully equipped with floatation devices like life jackets. When it is finally cold enough for the ice to be thick enough to support their weight, they venture forth again. Having learned from their prior mistakes, they take several precautions, including tossing a giant boulder onto the ice to see if it breaks. Hockey in the Wild incidentally teaches about ice pond safety as well.

The illustrations are rendered in Photoshop. Pictorial details add to the humour in the story. For instance, beaver wears just his fur on its back; however, when he goes for his morning dip, he is wearing a swim brief and a life saver (when we all know beavers are great swimmers). The three main characters, beaver, moose and bear, resemble real animals, but their actions are much more human-like. For example, they sit on couches and eat cake.

Overall, Hockey in the Wild is a humorous story for primary aged children who like to play hockey, especially pond hockey. It is a great book for hockey enthusiasts.