Z is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet (Sleeping Bear Press Sports & Hobbies)
by Matt Napier
List Price:
Buy Used: from $3.00 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
(Click here)
Book Summary Information
Author: Matt NapierBrand: Books
Illustrator: Melanie Rose
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2002-11-17
ISBN: 1585360651
Number of pages: 40
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Book Reviews of Z is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet (Sleeping Bear Press Sports & Hobbies)
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 (Sleeping Bear Press Sports & Hobbies)
"Z is for Zamboni" is an alphabet book for hockey fans young and old across America. Matt Napier's "breakaway" rhymes and "hard-checking" expository text team up with the "top-shelf" illustrations of Melanie Rose to elucidate this increasingly popular game for every beginning hockey aficionado. Highlighting rules, players, coaches, teams, and the history of the game, it is both fun and educational.Reference & Nonfiction Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Reference & Nonfiction Books
English Skills Hbby Simon Greaves
Collins Educational; Published: 1995; Paperback; Book
Handwriting: Beginning Cursive Script (Handwriting 5-10 years)by Peter Smith, Judith Williams
Collins Educational; Published: 1992-12; Hardcover; Book
One, Two, Three and Away! (One Two Three & Away)by Sheila K Mccullagh
Harper Collins Education; Published: 1996-01-30; Hardcover; Book
Primary Comprehension 1 (Bk. 1)by John Jackman
Collins Educational; Published: 1997-09-16; Paperback; Book
Gulpilils Stories of Dreamtimby Fiction
HarperCollins (Australia) Children's; Published: 1987-06-22; Hardcover; Book
Musical Lettersby Peter Rinne
Harpercollins Audio; Published: 2001-07-02; Audio Cassette; Book
Best price: $90.56
Starting School (Picture Puffin)by Allan Ahlberg, Janet Ahlberg
Puffin; Published: 1990-09-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.86
My Great-Aunt Arizonaby Gloria Houston
Harper Collins Publishers; HarperCollins; Published: 1997-03-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.44
Price in other shops:
Thorndike-Barnhart Junior Dictionaryby Clarence L. Barnhart
Harpercollins Childrens Books; Published: 1996-07; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops:
Pizza, Pigs, and Poetry: How to Write a Poemby Jack Prelutsky
Greenwillow Books; Published: 2008-02-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.40
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Hockey ABC (My First NHL Book)by Christopher Jordan
FENN-TUNDRA; Published: 2011-11-18; Board book; Book
Best price: $3.85
Price in other shops:
The Flying Hockey Stickby Jolly Roger Bradfield
Books; Purple House Press; Published: 2007-02; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.97
Price in other shops:
Ben and Lucy Play Pond Hockeyby Andrew Sherburne
Beaver's Pond Press; Published: 2010-11-08; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.72
Price in other shops:
Casey and Derek on the Iceby Marty Sederman
Chronicle Books; Published: 2008-09-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.88
Price in other shops:
Franklin Sports NHL Mini Hockey SetFranklin Sports; Franklin; Sports
Best price: $20.75
Price in other shops:
I Spy With My Little Eye: Hockeyby Matt Napier
Sleeping Bear Press; Sleeping Bear Press; Published: 2008-09-25; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.43
Price in other shops:
The Magic Hockey Stick (Picture Puffins)by Peter Maloney
Puffin Books; Puffin; Published: 2001-10-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.26
Price in other shops:
Hat Tricks Count: A Hockey Number Bookby Matt Napier
Sleeping Bear Press; Sleeping Bear Press; Published: 2005-09-23; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.37
Price in other shops:
Kaskey Kids Hockey Guys Blue vs. Yellow Figure SetKaskey Kids; Kaskey Kids; Release date: 2011-04-28; Sports
Best price: $17.50
Price in other shops:
Dino-Hockey (Carolrhoda Picture Books)by Lisa Wheeler
Carolrhoda Books; Carolrhoda Books; Published: 2007-10-01; Library Binding; Book
Best price: $10.19
Price in other shops: