Hockey in the Wild

August 1, 2020

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.

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 15, 2020
It's hockey night in the Canadian woods...almost. Initially the beaver is headed to the lake for his morning dip. But after checking the wind speed and doffing his floaty and pulling on his bathing suit, he jumps...onto the ice. The beaver calls his moose and bear friends. They strap on their skates and grab their sticks and jump--through the ice. However, these are determined hockey players. The next day, they return with lifejackets only to discover you can't play hockey waist deep in freezing water. Waiting for the ice to set is not easy, but competitive napping, karaoke, and comfort food help. When the freeze has finally taken hold...the friends are out of shape. After a rigorous exercise regimen (and lots of kale), they finally get to hit the ice. Then it is game on! And on. And on. Deadpan cartoons capture both the silliness of the animals' preparations and the magic of a game of shinny under the stars. Oldland's seventh Life in the Wild title will be most comfortably familiar in northern climes, but the tale of persistence, friendship, and devotion to sport with its understated humor and anthropomorphic north woods critters will charm readers in warmer latitudes just as much as its predecessors did. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8-by-16-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.) "He shoots, he scores!" Again. (Picture book. 2-7)

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September 1, 2020
Preschool-G Beaver calls Bear and Moose to share the news: the pond has frozen! Ecstatic, the three pals lace up their skates, grab their hockey sticks, jump onto the ice, and crash through it. The next day, they repeat the process. Unable to think about anything but hockey, they begin a difficult waiting period: napping, eating comfort food, singing karaoke, and staring at the outdoor thermometer. One morning, a blizzard blows in. Out of shape, Bear, Moose, and Beaver begin an intensive training period to get in shape for the season. Then, after thoroughly testing the ice, they skate across it confidently. And long after sunset, they're still out there, playing hockey under the stars. Written with droll wit, the narrative provides drama and a satisfying, unexpectedly idyllic ending. The expressive digital illustrations work beautifully with the text to dramatize the profound difficulty of waiting, an idea that will resonate with young children. From Oldland's Life in the Wild series, which began with Big Bear Hug (2009), here's an amusing, endearing picture book, especially for hockey fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)