Z Is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet (Sports)

Z Is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet (Sports)
by Matt M. Napier

Z Is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet (Sports)
List Price: $7.99
Our Price: $4.25
You Save: $3.74 (47%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.92 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


(Click here)
Buy this book at online book store in your country
Canada | UK | Germany | France

Book Summary Information

Author: Matt M. Napier
Brand: Sleeping Bear Press
Illustrator: Melanie Rose
Edition: Board book
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2006-09-21
ISBN: 1585363030
Number of pages: 40
Reading Level: Baby-Preschool
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Product features:
  • ISBN13: 9781585363032
  • Condition: NEW
  • Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Book Reviews of Z Is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet (Sports)

Book Review: A great introduction to hockey!
Summary: 5 Stars

I am always curious to learn just what letter will be used in the title of an alphabet book. "Z is for Zamboni" is perfect! Why? Because what I know about hockey is contained in the title: a zamboni (to quote the book) is "a machine that cleans the ice, ensuring for tomorrow's game/ a surface smooth and nice."

I looked at all the hockey books in the children's division of Amazon, seeking just one representative, informative book about hockey. I had a request from one of my younger patrons/students for a book on hockey. Being familiar with the alphabet books, I knew this one would not disappoint. In fact, I am sure it will delight.

But back to that zamboni. "The ice of the hockey arena becomes rough and chopped-up after the players skate on it for awhile." Repairing it was difficult until Frank Zamboni, in 1949, "invented a motorized ice-resurfacing machine" which "scrapes off a thin layer of ice and lay(s) down an even amount of water" at the beginning of each period and each game.

Does the above wording seem written for ages 4-8, the intended audience? The way all these alphabet books works is this: the little rhyming quatrains and illustrations are for kids and the more detailed information on the sides of each double-paged spread is for older audiences, making this book one for all ages. That is pretty much true for all the alphabet books.

The history of hockey, players, terms, sporting events, and participation in the sport are items included in the book. And, wow, I learned quite a bit in my read-through. Young readers will have a field day with this book. No, make that: Young readers will have a hockey game with this book. No, that means hitting and shoving and perhaps a P: penalty for two, five, or ten minutes. Do you know that, unlike other sports, when a player is sent to the penalty box, there is no replacement player? That's the double-edged penalty: against the player AND the team. Interesting item: P is for puck, "black rubber to the core." Obviously, puck represents the P, not penalty, because the word "puck" is lesser known than "penalty."

K is for King Clancy: "How much can one man do?/ Not only did he play and coach,/ he was a manger, too." And a referee. In fact, he is such a legend that an award was set in his name and presented annually to the player that "best displays leadership skills on and off the ice."

Oh yes, I forgot. I know Gretzky, in addition to zamboni. Wayne Gretzky "is considered by many to be the greatest player to ever play the game of hockey...and holds over 60 NHL records for scoring and playmaking." Indeed!

Other letters: E is for equipment (Jacques Plante was the first goalie to wear a mask--1959)--the illustration shows two boys, age 8 or so, sitting on a bench in the locker room, intently putting on their uniforms with their equipment next to them (my favorite illustration!), S and T are for penalties--Slash and Trip, H is for the Hall of Fame, which opened in Toronto in 1961, U is for Team USA, "Who, to everyone's surprise,/ at Lake Placid won Olympic Gold/," and O is for the "Original Six,/ the first teams in the NHL:/ Boston, Toronto, New York, Montreal, Detroit, and Chicago, as well."

This review began with the last alphabet letter and will close with the first: A is for Arena, but also All-Star game. An interesting factoid: "The fans often pick the team starters."

It is widely known in educational circles that a good test is also a teaching tool. I hope this review serves the same purpose, not only to enlighten about the book's contents, but also to offer a few hockey facts for brain storage.

Although intended for audiences 4-8 (I want to extend that to 12), "Z is for Zamboni" is the kind of directly presented information with excellent illustrations that entice adults to appreciate it along with their children. Highly recommended to those seeking background knowledge of the game.

Summary of Z Is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet (Sports)

With vibrant illustrations that bring the action alive, and A-Z poems that describe the basic elements of the sport, the bestselling "Z is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet" is now available in a new boardbook format, accessible to even the youngest of hockey fans.

General Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in General Books
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? ImageBrown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
by Bill Martin Jr.
INGRAM BOOK & DISTRIBUTOR; Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); Published: 1996-09-15; Board book; Book
Best price: $3.93
Price in other shops: $7.95
Boynton's Greatest Hits: Volume 1 (Boynton, Sandra. Boynton Board Books.) ImageBoynton's Greatest Hits: Volume 1 (Boynton, Sandra. Boynton Board Books.)
by Sandra Boynton
Little Simon; Published: 1998-10-01; Board book; Book
Best price: $11.90
Price in other shops: $21.95
Llama Llama Red Pajama ImageLlama Llama Red Pajama
by Anna Dewdney
Viking Juvenile; Published: 2005-05-05; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.82
Price in other shops: $16.99
The Very Hungry Caterpillar ImageThe Very Hungry Caterpillar
by Eric Carle
INGRAM BOOK & DISTRIBUTOR; Philomel; Published: 1994-03-23; Board book; Book
Best price: $3.50
Price in other shops: $10.99
Goodnight Moon ImageGoodnight Moon
by Margaret Wise Brown
HarperFestival; Published: 1991-09-30; Board book; Book
Best price: $4.64
Price in other shops: $8.99
Big Board First 100 Words (Bright Baby) ImageBig Board First 100 Words (Bright Baby)
by Roger Priddy
Priddy Books; Published: 2005-08-01; Board book; Book
Best price: $5.79
Price in other shops: $8.95
Peek-A Who? ImagePeek-A Who?
by Nina Laden
Chronicle Books; Published: 2000-02-01; Board book; Book
Best price: $3.24
Price in other shops: $6.95
My Big Animal Book (My Big Board Books) ImageMy Big Animal Book (My Big Board Books)
by Roger Priddy
INGRAM BOOK & DISTRIBUTOR; Priddy Bicknell; Published: 2002-05-17; Board book; Book
Best price: $3.26
Price in other shops: $5.95
The Going-To-Bed Book ImageThe Going-To-Bed Book
by Sandra Boynton
Little Simon; Published: 1982-11-30; Board book; Book
Best price: $2.48
Price in other shops: $5.99
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (Baby Board Books) ImageHead, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (Baby Board Books)
Child's Play International; Published: 2002-10; Board book; Book
Best price: $1.87
Price in other shops: $4.99
Similar Books and other products
H is for Home Run: A Baseball Alphabet Edition 1. (Sleeping Bear Press Sports & Hobbies) ImageH is for Home Run: A Baseball Alphabet Edition 1. (Sleeping Bear Press Sports & Hobbies)
by Brad Herzog
Sleeping Bear Press; Published: 2004-03-19; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.39
Price in other shops: $16.95
The Goalie Mask (Hockey Heroes Series) ImageThe Goalie Mask (Hockey Heroes Series)
by Mike Leonetti
Raincoast Books; Published: 2008-10-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.22
Price in other shops: $6.95
Mylec Pro Style Mini Hockey Goal Set ImageMylec Pro Style Mini Hockey Goal Set
Mylec; Mylec; Sports
Price in other shops: $30.00
Casey and Derek on the Ice ImageCasey and Derek on the Ice
by Marty Sederman
Chronicle Books; Published: 2008-09-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.40
Price in other shops: $15.99
HOCKEY GUYS by Kaskey Kids ImageHOCKEY GUYS by Kaskey Kids
Kaskey Kids; Kaskey Kids; Toy
Best price: $18.95
Price in other shops: $23.95
Hockey Stickers (Dover Little Activity Books) ImageHockey Stickers (Dover Little Activity Books)
by Bob Censoni
Dover Publications; Published: 1992-02-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.54
Price in other shops: $1.50
I Spy With My Little Eye: Hockey ImageI Spy With My Little Eye: Hockey
by Matt Napier
Sleeping Bear Press; Sleeping Bear Press; Published: 2008-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.52
Price in other shops: $13.95
Dino-Hockey (Carolrhoda Picture Books) ImageDino-Hockey (Carolrhoda Picture Books)
by Lisa Wheeler
Carolrhoda Books; Published: 2007-10-01; Library Binding; Book
Best price: $10.51
Price in other shops: $16.95
The Magic Hockey Stick (Picture Puffins) ImageThe Magic Hockey Stick (Picture Puffins)
by Peter Maloney
Puffin; Published: 2001-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.48
Price in other shops: $5.99
Hat Tricks Count: A Hockey Number Book Edition 1. (Count Your Way Across the U.S.A.) ImageHat Tricks Count: A Hockey Number Book Edition 1. (Count Your Way Across the U.S.A.)
by Matt Napier
Sleeping Bear Press; Sleeping Bear Press; Published: 2005-09-23; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.20
Price in other shops: $16.95
Book store. Illustrated catalog of books on different categories