by Nicholas Oldland (Author) Nicholas Oldland (Illustrator)
The lovable Life in the Wild trio can't wait to get out on the ice to play hockey. Except, well, they're going to have to!
It's wintertime, and the bear, the moose and the beaver can't wait for hockey season to start. They're so eager, in fact, they head out onto the ice before it's thick enough, and they all fall through. Twice. While they wait for the lake to freeze, they try to take their minds off hockey. There's competitive napping. Karaoke. Lots of comfort food. Until, at last, the day arrives when the ice is ready. But, after all that time not being active, are they ready?
Part of the bestselling Life in the Wild picture book series from Nicholas Oldland, this funny romp is, at its heart, a love letter to the sport of hockey and the joys of playing in the wild outdoors. Oldland's distinctive dry humor shines here, making this a fun read-aloud. But the hilarious visual story --- including the character's facial expressions and numerous asides --- mean children, even nonreaders, will also want to spend time with the pages on their own.
Children who love hockey will appreciate the friends' devotion to the game and the difficulty of waiting for conditions to be just right, but every child who has had to wait for something (that is, every child) will relate to the situation. In this, the book offers some character education lessons on patience and perseverance. Separately, there are connections to healthy outdoor activity and winter safety.
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PreS-Gr 2--The beaver, bear, and moose are back for another adventure. When the beaver tries to go for a swim one chilly day, he discovers that the lake froze over and excitedly informs the bear and the moose of this fact. Donning hockey skates, the friends rush out onto the ice but quickly realize it won't support their weight. Even life jackets fail to keep them from plunging into the frigid water, so the disappointed trio goes home to wait for even colder weather. To pass the time, they sing karaoke, cook "lots of comfort food," and nap, but when true winter arrives they hit another snag--they have grown too out of shape to play hockey. After an intense five-day dieting and fitness session, the team finally gets out on the ice and to enjoy the long-awaited game. Oldland's digital illustrations, with their earnestly expressive protagonists, bring humor to the otherwise straightforward, plain-spoken plot, although some of the points can lend themselves to a discussion about patience, perseverance, and healthy eating habits. VERDICT An enjoyable winter story featuring a sport not often depicted in picture books, this is for young hockey fans or anyone who enjoys anthropomorphic animal antics.--Yelena Voysey, formerly at Pickering Educational Lib., Boston Univ.
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