cover image Z Is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet

Z Is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet

Matt Napier. Sleeping Bear Press, $19.95 (40pp) ISBN 978-1-58536-065-9

Famous players, positions, game rules and more make up Matt Napier's Z Is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet, illus. by Melanie Rose. Written in verse, the book begins with the arena where it all happens (""A is for Arena./ The game is played in here,/ A building where the fans all gather/ to clap and boo and cheer""), closes with the Zamboni that cleans the ice for the next face-off, and includes the roles of players and some of the stars (""B is for two Bobbys,/ with last names of Hull and Orr""). Up-close paintings of intent players and landscape views of the rink vary the pacing.