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Vision, audacity, and a revolutionary philosophy make Jacques Plante unique. This book tells the story of his legendary career as a NHL goaltender, from his beginnings in the minor leagues in Shawinigan, Quebec to his rise to stardom, and describes how the difficulties he encountered in his personal life mirrored those he faced on the ice. This exceptional biography provides insight into the most eloquent athlete of his generation: an avid reader and a born dissenter.
Leaving home isn't easy – especially when your new school is a seminary run by priests who insist that their students play basketball. In this nostalgic, often funny glimpse of a young man's journey along the road of life, Roch Carrier revisits the town of Sainte Justine, Quebec. Daunted by his new home and inability to play basketball, the young narrator decides to leave the seminary. But after an encounter with a gruff-voiced poacher, he realizes that it is easier to confront his fears than run away from them, and he rejoins his schoolmates in a rousing game of basketball. Sheldon Cohen's vivid and energetic illustrations complement the text in this story as well as in earlier sports collaborations with Carrier, which include the Canadian classic, The Hockey Sweater.
Klonk's telekinetic powers set him apart from his peers. He asks a childhood friend to come to Quebec City and bring a large sum of money with him. Klonk is able to influence the outcome of a hockey game at the Quebec Coliseum with the power of his mind, and needs the money to place a winning bet. Soon, Klonk and his friend have joined the shady world of sports betting. After Klonk disappears without a trace, his friend jumps from adventure to adventure trying to track him down. Readers will find this story as exciting and action-packed as a hockey game!
Manon Rhéaume has loved hockey since she began to play at five years of age, but her life as a hockey player has not been an easy one. Playing on boys' teams, she was constantly confronted with the disapproval of her male colleagues, coaches, and fans and she had to work harder than her teammates to achieve her goals. Her perseverance paid off! At the age of 20, Manon became the first female to play in the National Hockey League. Manon Rhéaume: Seule devant le filet chronicles Manon's rise to fame through her own eyes and the eyes of her family, teammates, and coaches. Her story is emotional, inspiring, and offers an inside look at a young woman's struggle to succeed in a male-dominated sport.
In this amusing story, told in rhyme, a crowd of walrus go to a hockey game at the Ice Palace to cheer for their hero, Mario, captain of the Penguins, in a game against the Polar Bears. When the sensational Mario shoots and scores, the crowd goes crazy as their team wins the famous Ice Cream Cup. The details of the very funny, brightly coloured illustrations add enjoyment to the story: crowds arrive at the Palace on the back of a whale, on small ice bergs, or in hot-air balloons shaped like fish. Instead of popcorn everyone is snacking on miniature fish, one of the Penguins keeps a soother around his neck, and the winners' trophy is filled to overflowing with ice-cream and chocolate sauce... mmmm, good!
It is a time-honoured debate in all sports - are the players of today as good as the stars of yesterday? Author Gravel makes such a confrontation possible in this novel when the great Maurice "the Rocket" Richard meets a mysterious taxi driver with strange powers. A team of older superstars, including Jean Béliveau, Stan Mikita and others, is assembled and the game is arranged. Gravel gives us a satisfying result and, at the same time, reminds us that there is often still a big kid inside a grown man. He also casts a wary glance at how sports have become commercialized and demonstrates that sports should also be fun. The novel is simply but effectively written and moves along at a rapid pace.
Sacha wins his school's "Young Reporter" contest. The prize is an interview with the biathlete Myriam Bédard and a chance to get an article about it published. The young reporter is torn between excitement and anxiety! Myriam talks about the highlights of her life, from her childhood to the birth of her first child, and of her career as an Olympic athlete, describing her feelings and telling some revealing stories along the way. Advice for young biathletes and biographical notes complete the book. This biography, written in interview format, is interspersed with fictitious details that give it a novel-like quality. The style is lively, the tone playful, and readers will be able to identify with Myriam. This book should appeal to young adolescents in search of a role model.
Study break is starting soon and Aurélie is already excited about all the activities her mother has planned for the two of them. But it turns out that her mother is so busy at work that she has to cancel their plans. To give her daughter something to do, she buys her a pair of skates and Aurélie has to learn to use them... all by herself. She is fortunate to find the wonderful Zingara Park where two kind teachers, Zéphyr and Myriam, offer crash courses in skating. Once Aurélie can skate, she performs for Frida, the demanding judge. Thanks to her determination and courage, our heroine learns to skate with ease in a winter wonderland.
Seven-year-old André dreams of owning a pair of skates and of playing hockey with the stars of the NHL. One Christmas, his dream comes true and his talent, efforts and perseverance do the rest. This fantasy may make adults smile in disbelief, but children in search of adventure will come back for more. The illustrator's watercolours add a humorous touch to the beautifully written story. The audio version of the book will appeal to slightly younger audiences, and includes game suggestions and hockey trivia. The fine recording includes music, sound effects and enthralling narration by the author (who is also a sports commentator).
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