The Hockey Song

PreS-Gr 1--"Oh! The good ol' hockey game, /it's the best game you can name./And the best game you can/name, is the good ol'/hockey game." This is the main phrase of Connors's rousing anthem, "The Hockey Song," a piece of cultural heritage that has now been captured in picture book format for the next generation. While amateur players sing the song, lively illustrations, drawn in Clement's characteristic style, give the play-by-play. The story moves from puck drop to final score, from a shared moment between father and son to an all-out international game. As women, men, and children of various ethnicities join in the fun, more jerseys get added to the mix. Some children will get an extra level of satisfaction just from trying to identify the teams. The book as a whole has a videolike composition to it, dramatically enhancing the look with panoramic long shots and close-ups that are right in the action. Tension gradually mounts as the game gets progressively more intense, although readers do have a chance to breathe during two well-placed period announcements. Overall, the illustrations convey the spirit of the song and hockey itself. VERDICT Young and old hockey fans alike will enjoy this colorful picture book tribute to hockey's anthem.--Rachel Forbes, formerly at Oakville Public Library, Ont.