Hockey Book Reviews.com

Author Mike Leonetti is back with his line of hockey history books aimed at children. In 2009 he has teamed up once again with illustrator Greg Banning to bring us The Rocket , the story of Maurice Richard. Buy the book: | Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com | The book is also available in Canada in French: | Amazon.ca - Chapters | Previous history-themed children's titles by Leonetti include Wendel and The Great One , Maple Leafs A-Z , Gretzky's Game , The Greatest Goal , The Goalie Mask , Number Four, Bobby Orr! , A Hero Named Howe and My Leafs Sweater . I am always impressed that publishers take a chance on a children's series devoted to hockey players from decades ago. But clearly the series is a success. You better make room for another hit on your bookshelves, because Leonetti's magic is in full force in The Rocket. Leonetti tells the story of Rocket Richard through an aspiring young hockey player named Andre. Andre loves the Rocket, and he loves to play hocke...

2009 marks the 25th anniversary of TSN - The Sports Network. Really, just 25 years? TSN is like the Internet - I can not imagine life without it. In such a short time frame TSN has gone from start up to Canada's sports leaders, both on television and online. Led by an army of award-winning broadcasters, reporters and analysts, TSN has provided us with some of the most compelling, intriguing and provocative events in sports history. Part of the celebrations includes a commemorative book, authored by Jim Hynes (of Saving Face fame) and Rob Lutes, called TSN 25 Years . Buy The Book: | Amazon.ca - Chapters | The duo look back at TSN's first 25 years in a 256 page, lavishly illustrated photo book. Fans can relive their favorite sports moments with feature stories and commentary from TSN personalities.

Leafs AbomiNation , co-written by Dave Feschuk and Michael Grange, has cracked The Globe and Mail's best sellers list , joining the likes of list regulars by Malcolm Gladwell and Eckhart Tolle . Buy The Book | Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com |

Super author Eric Zweig is a hockey book machine, putting out three new books out in 2009. The first we'll look at is On This Day In Hockey, published by Scholastic. Buy The Book - | Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com | Also available in French - | Amazon.ca - Chapters | The Scholastic label should quickly indicate that this is a juvenile book, specifically aimed at kids from ages 7 through 12. The book looks at one famous thing that happened on each day of the year. It's great for young readers who want to know what happened on their birthday, or their friends’ birthdays, or their friends’ friends’ birthdays, etc. Older readers will have to turn to the internet or some other source if they want more famous feats recorded on a daily basis. Zweig strictly sticks with just one per day, and therefore correctly aims the book at youth. The book is also stacked with black and white photos throughout, both historical and current. Full page spreads featuring famous events, people, t...

Over at Hockey Book Reviews.com last week I interviewed hockey cartoonist Merv Magus . In the past I've interviewed authors Jim Hynes , and most famously Jack Falla . This season I have interviews placed with Stephen Brunt, Mike Leonetti, Don Weekes, Sebastien Tremblay, Sheldon Kannegiesser, Todd Denault, and Brett Henning, and hopefully more.

Don't forget about Pepsi's Join The Cheer contest. They want to come up with the definitive cheer to urge on our men's, women's and sledge hockey teams at international tournaments such as the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and beyond. They want the fans to be as prepared as our athletes will be. Me, I'm going with "It's Our Game!" Imagine the opening face off at the gold medal game at the 2010 Olympics, Canada vs. Russia. 18,000 fans at Canada Hockey Place chanting "It's Our Game! It's Our Game!"

If there is one person who should be ecstatic about Gretzky's current plight it would be author Stephen Brunt. His newest book, Gretzky's Tears: Hockey, Canada, and the Day Everything Changed , is due out in early October. All of this headline news can only be good for book sales. Coincidentally, I received my advance copy of the text for HockeyBookReviews.com . I've already devoured half of it, and I can assure you it is good. Very good. Pre-Order: | Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com |

I found a great used book store in Chilliwack, BC this summer. The Book Man on Wellington Street not only was one of the better used book stores I've seen in Western Canada, and they had a real good hockey book selection. Or at least they used to before I bought much of their collection. One book I was pleasantly pleased to discover was a 1980s book of hockey cartoons by a fellow named Merv Magus . I had never heard of Magus or any of his 5 books, but I enjoyed his offering so much I just had to track him down. Through the magic of Facebook I did just that. Merv and I began talking a lot about hockey, cartoons and publishing. Mr. Magus was kind enough to grant me this interview so we can better get to know him. Hockey Book Reviews (HBR): How did you get into the hockey cartoon business? Merv Magus (MM): I entered the hockey cartoon business in the 1970’s shortly after the Canucks joined the NHL. Myself and two other guys went 3 ways on a season ticket, so I attended quite a few ...

Author Michael Grange recently was on the Globe And Mail Sports Podcast discussing his new book Leafs AbomiNation , co-written by Dave Feschuk. Buy The Book | Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com | Click hear to listen to the podcast.

Stephen Brunt's Gretzky's Tears: Hockey, Canada, and the Day Everything Changed may be the most anticipated hockey book of 2009. Buy The Book - | Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com | Brunt was talking books with Bob McCown on Toronto's Fan 590 sports radio show Prime Time Sports. He does not go into the Gretzky's Tears book too much, but listening to the two of them talk about sports books was a real treat. Here's the podcast link , with the opening 15 or so minutes being of interest here. One correction for McCown and Brunt: Late in the conversation they ask whether a fiction sports book could ever be a top seller in Canada, and they dismiss that notion. Actually, I believe the best selling sports book in Canadian history is a fictional story: Roch Carrier's The Hockey Sweater .

This is from Wiley: The Making of Slapshot has been delayed until next fall.

Paul Romanuk is back with his annual edition of Hockey Superstars. I remember getting the very first edition way back when, in one of those newsprint catalogs Scholastic distributed through the school system. Not surprisingly that was the book I always chose each year. The book has not really changed much over the years. A collection of NHL superstars are profiled, with 17 selected this year including Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Miikka Kiprusoff and others. They are profiled with glossy, full-page, full-colour photos, bios, previous season stats and pull-out interview quotes. Also included is information on all the teams, NHL award-winners, interactive pages that allow kids to track their favourite players, and a countdown-to-the-Cup fill-in poster thrown in for good measure. The 48 page book is recommended for ages 6 and up. It's a good starter book for the young hockey fan in your family.

I spend a lot of time reviewing hockey books here at HockeyBookReviews.com . Making your online purchases via my links offsets costs of running my free websites. Look at it this way: If you like my work, and you think it's worth buying me a cup of coffee, then shop Amazon or Chapters via my links. I'm going to keep doing my work for free because I love doing this, but I'd greatly appreciate your support! Here's a look at the class of 2009 hockey books. 100 Rangers Greats Biggest Book of Hockey Trivia Blue Ice Canada's Game: Hockey and Identity Canadian Gold : Andrew Podnieks Canadian Hockey Literature Canada's Olympic Hockey History, 1920-2010 Coast to Coast: Hockey & WWII Early Hockey Years in Parry Sound From The Broadcast Booth : Brian McFarlane Gabby : Bruce Boudreau Goaltenders: The Expansion Years Good, Bad, Ugly: Detroit Red Wings Gretzky's Tears : Stephen Brunt Hat Trick: Harley Hotchkiss Hockey Dad: Bob McKenzie Home Ice: 20...

Here's a listing of re-released and new-to-paperback books in 2009: Don Cherry's Hockey Stories And Stuff Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com Hockey: A People's History by Michael McKinley Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com Hockey Night In Canada: By The Numbers Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com Open Net by George Plimpton: Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com The Meaning Of Puck: Bruce Dowbiggin Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

Scholastic and author David Skuy have a new hockey themed entry in the Young Adult fiction book market: Rebel Power Play . Buy The Book - | Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com | Rebel Power Play is the second book in what will quickly become the popular Charlie Joyce series. Skuy found good success with original book Off the Crossbar from 2006, and continues the story of our protagonist Charlie Joyce with Rebel Power Play. This time around Charlie finds himself battling with egos on his hockey team - only this time it's the coach who needs to check himself. Charlie is unhappy that he has missed tryouts for the local league. Just when he thinks he won't be able to play AAA hockey he meets Tom Dunn, a sponsor, who encourages Charlie to try out for his new team, The Hawks. Things are looking up until practices start and the team realizes that Dunn is not coach material. As they lose game after game and lose half the team to fighting, it is left up to Charlie and some others to t...

Scholastic has a couple of hockey-themed books aimed at real youngsters. Let's take a look: Hockey Hero by Jean and Dan Marzollo, Illustrated by True Kelley. Ages 5-8 - 32 pages with color illustrations throughout. Reprinted from 1999. Just $4.99 - Buy The Book - | Amazon.ca - Chapters | Also available in French: | Amazon.ca - Chapters | When Hal and his father move to a new town, Hal is upset to find that he’s no longer a “star” player on the “best” hockey team. Instead, he struggles to make even a single goal while his team battles some tough opposing players. But the worst news comes when Hal’s coach moves him from center to defense. How can he be a star player without scoring a goal? With practice and a new attitude, Hal learns an important lesson about teamwork and having fun! Polar Bears on Ice by Kate Flanagan Ages 5-8 - 40 pages with color illustrations throughout. Just $4.99 - Buy The Book - | Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com | Spirited Maggie disappoints as a f...

Here's the latest look at hockey books on the bargain shelves at Chapters : Mike Leonetti's Habs Legends. This was a $50 book when it first came out. Now it's on for just 12.99. There are some great photos and some great memories of dozens of Habs greats. I raved about it in my original review, so you can imagine how much better the book is at a 74% discount. Treat yourself to this great coffee table book at this amazing price. Other hockey books currently found in the Chapters bargain sections are:

When Greystone Books and author Benoit Melancon released The Rocket: A Cultural History of Maurice Richard in 2009, my first thought was "Wow, another Rocket Richard book?" Over the years has there been any other player so well documented in print? There have been some excellent works, but how many more books can there be that genuinely offer something new? My early fears were quickly dismissed, as Melancon's book is definitely worthy of a place on any hockey fan's book shelf. In fact, the book has received international critical acclaim in both academic and popular circles. Buy The Book | Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com | The book was first published in French only and released in Quebec back in 2006, almost unbeknown to the rest of Canada. The English version was translated by Fred A. Reed. There is a moving foreword by the eloquent Roy MacGregor and a touching afterword by the elegant Jean Beliveau. Though the book is proving to be popular in academic setting...

TSN's Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie first book is now available in bookstores and online McKenzie is best known as TSN's resident hockey expert, while many of us remember him in his former incarnation as editor in chief of The Hockey News. One thing is for sure - McKenzie knows the NHL inside and out. But his first book is not about the NHL or even life on television or at THN. McKenzie gets downright personal in Hockey Dad: True Confessions From a (Crazy) Hockey Parent . Buy The Book - | Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com | You see McKenzie's oldest son, Michael, is now playing in US college while his other son, Shawn, was forced out of the game at age 14 due to concussions. McKenzie may be a TV and print personality, but first and foremost he is a father, and even a hockey coach. McKenzie's book is said to be an open, candid and highly personal look at the good and the bad of hockey, specifically at the youth level. Though first hand experience he explores this world ...

Long suffering Toronto Maple Leafs fans will be interested to note that one of the earliest bookstore releases this hockey season is Dave Feschuk's and Michael Grange's title Leafs AbomiNation . Buy The Book | Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com | Comically priced at $19.67, referring to the last year they won the Stanley Cup although it is usually sold at an even lower price, the book is sub-titled "The Dismayed Fan's Handbook To Why The Leafs Stink And How They Can Rise Again." No punches pulled there! But I guess after 42 years, 2 arenas, 3 owners, 19 coaches, 534 players, and 27-million fans, the authors can be downright frank about it. You can go down to your local bookstore and check it out. Or you can read a free excerpts courtesy of the blog Pension Plan Puppets. Here's the excerpts of the chapter called Blame History: Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four The Globe And Mail also has a free excerpt titled 42 Years And No Hope In Sight . Also, the aut...

Hitting magazine shelves this week is a new magazine called 2009-10 Maple Leafs Annual . I'm pleased to say I have a history related story in the magazine. In the mag I take a look back at the 1930s Toronto Maple Leafs, the loveable "Gashouse Gang" of hockey that amazingly went to seven Stanley Cup finals in 9 years. After winning the first title, somehow the Leafs managed to go 0 and 6 the rest of the decade. The 128 page publication (with no advertisements, I must add) also features the writing of other top new media talent including James Mirtle, Pension Plan Puppets, and Dirk Hoag. The annual is available Canada-wide only at Chapters stores, as well as at newsstands all over the greater Toronto area (except the airport, apparently). You can also order online via Maple Tree Press .