That's Not Hockey!

If you are a fan of hockey, this book is a must read. It is the true story about the goalie who invented the hockey mask.   I really like how the author unravels Jacques journey from a teased child with innovative hockey gear to a professional goalie.  Jacques came from a foundation of creativity and a love for the sport, through sustaining numerous harsh injuries to the face and head, to inventing and wearing the first hockey mask out on the ice.  Oh, and this hockey star- won six Stanley Cups.  His innovation and bravery changed the level of game play in terms of skills, confidence, and safety for the goalie. I appreciate how the author and illustrator don't sugar coat the reality of hockey, from stitches, broken noses, and blood on the ice, you get an idea of the experience on the ice. This is a great read aloud for Canadians, Mainers, and all hockey fan communities. I also recommend this picturebook as a mentor text for your biography units of study with older kids. The double spread full bleed illustrations are fantastic, realistic enough for the genre, yet active and interesting for children to look at. It is cool how the illustrations have a mix of colorful action and black and white in the background.  The amount of text is just right, with fluent lines and a repeating chorus, "Hey, that's not hockey!" I will be purchasing this book to share with my students. I love hockey and I love this important narrative about a vital contribution to the sport.