From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-Fanny and her five friends want desperately to play on the town's A Team in hockey but when it comes time for the tryouts, the big and mean players tell them to go home before they even set foot on the ice. Undaunted by the name calling ("No failures on our rink! No Flip. No Flop. No Frieda-she can't play. The A's are A for Awesome. You guys are F's"), the friends retaliate by meeting at the rink at night to practice, practice, practice-figure skating moves. "Frenchie learned to own the ice./Frieda danced with grace./Flip and Flop could bunny hop but Fred became `our ace.'" Their return on Saturday dazzles everyone as the F's take on the A's and skate to a humorous conclusion. Colorful cartoons have a flowing and curving motion to the lines. Endpapers are graced with curlicues and swirls reminiscent of cuts in the ice after a figure-skating practice. Hockey picture books are in short supply, but this one is for those willing to suspend belief that there is no difference between figure and hockey skates.
Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"Carter's story moves at a brisk pace, and her rhymes and rhythms show a vibrant wit." (Quill & Quire )
Book Description
With figure skates on their feet and determination in their hearts, Fanny and her friends set out to practice hockey until they shine.
About the Author
Anne Laurel Carter is a multi-award-winning author of books for children, including Under the Prairie Sky (Orca 2004). When she's not writing, she's reading. Anne lives in Toronto, Ontario, where she works full-time as a teacher-librarian.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
My friends and I love hockey.
We shared a single dream:
To shoot like stars across the ice
and make our town's A team.
Last year we tried out full of hope.
Five friends and I were keen,
Until we got a look at them.
Those A's were big and mean.
Right from the start they broke the rules.
"We've picked our team," they said.
"Go home, Frenchie. You, too, Fanny -
and don't forget Fat Fred."
We shared a single dream:
To shoot like stars across the ice
and make our town's A team.
Last year we tried out full of hope.
Five friends and I were keen,
Until we got a look at them.
Those A's were big and mean.
Right from the start they broke the rules.
"We've picked our team," they said.
"Go home, Frenchie. You, too, Fanny -
and don't forget Fat Fred."
