We Are the Goalies

February 1, 2014
Grades 4-7 This colorful book introduces the top goalies in the National Hockey League. Though small, the book is attractively designed, with heavy, glossy pages and a solid, bold background on each spread. Each left-hand page features a clear color photo of the player during a game. The facing page includes a small fact box with the goalie's current team, jersey number, catching hand, height, weight, date of birth, birthplace, and free agent statue or draft team, year, and rank. In a larger box, two paragraphs of text comment on the player's style and strengths, as well as summing up his accomplishments. A glossary clarifies terms such as butterfly style of goaltending and Bill Ranford Trophy. While all the entries are quite similar in content and tone, young fans will probably enjoy this focused presentation of the best goalies in the NHL today. A companion volume, Jordan's We Are the Goal Scorers, is also available.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2014
Double-page spreads superficially profile notable ice hockey stars in this official NHL series. Each player is given a glorified trading-card treatment: a one-page recitation of sports- and biographical stats faces an on-ice photo, which, in the goalies' cases, all look the same. NHL fans may appreciate these slight volumes, but they don't offer much more than a quick internet search would. Glos.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)