Children’s Book Review: Henry Holton Takes the Ice
In Henry Holton Takes the Ice, debut author, Sandra Bradley, introduces a charming character that shines on skates. The athletic Holton family tree includes many Most Valuable Players, so when Henry glides across the ice with great aplomb, it comes as no big surprise. However, much to his paren'ts’ chagrin, when a hockey stick is placed in Henry’s hands, he becomes a menace to the sport. Instead of dreaming of hat tricks and cross checks, the youngster yearns to ice dance and is undeterred by his father’s booming edicts of “We’re a HOCKEY FAMILY,” and his sister’s taunts. Henry’s grandmother not only gives him the precious gift of acceptance, but also a pair of her own childhood figure skates.
Sara Palacios’ coloured pencil illustrations humourously capture the Holton’s hockey obsession: Henry’s mother parks her Zamboni in front of their house, and the family dog, Gretzky, wears a Number 99 jersey. As a baby, Henry teethe on hockey pucks with a laboured, furrowed brow, but when he later finds his true calling on the ice, he is depicted with a closed-eye, blissfully transcendent expression on his face.
Written with wit and sensitivity, this is an uplifting story of self awareness and individuality. Score one for Henry!
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