HOCKEY IN THE WILD

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.