• Age: 6 to 8
• Grade: 1 to 3
• Reading age: 6 to 8

In the middle of the ice, a young Black hockey player finds joy in his talent and confidence in the cheers of his family, his coach, and the other players. Their support gives him the power to face down those who see him as a threat and to focus on the thrill of the game.
Young people of colour who have experienced racism on and off the ice will see themselves in these pages. The beauty of hockey is celebrated here, as is the excellence of the young Black boy who continues to play the sport he loves despite the danger that the racism of others can put him in. As well as his family and coach, he looks to Black hockey legends like P.K. Subban and Joel Ward for inspiration.

ITAH SADU est connue pour ses talents de conteuse et ses livres pour enfants. Elle a publié How The Coconut Got Its Face, Name Calling, Ta chambre est un désastre! et Christophe change de nom. Elle est copropriétaire d’une librairie populaire de Toronto, A Different Booklist. Itah Sadu a reçu le prix Marilyn Lastman lors de la semaine des arts, en 2004 (Toronto Arts Council Foundation Awards).

Itah Sadu is a distinguished storyteller and children's author. She has published How The Coconut Got Its Face, Name Calling, Christopher Please Clean Up Your Room, and Christopher Changes His Name. She is also co-owner of a popular Toronto bookstore, A Different Booklist. Itah Sadu was recently honoured with the Marilyn Lastman Award at Artsweek 2004 (Toronto Arts Council Foundation Awards).

Itah Sadu's profile page

MARLEY BEROT est une illustratrice qui compte plus de 10 ans d’expérience à la fois personnelle et professionnelle. Elle a notamment réalisé des couvertures pour Neuron, fait du graphisme pour le Festival international du film de Toronto, dessiné des logos et illustré des livres. Elle gère sa propre boutique en ligne. Marley est passionnée par son travail d’artiste, et cela se reflète dans chacune de ses œuvres. Elle habite dans la région de Toronto.

MARLEY BEROT is an illustrator with over ten years of combined personal and professional experience. Her portfolio includes cover art for Neuron, graphic design work for the Toronto International Film Festival, logo design, and book illustration. She runs her own online store called MarleysApothecary.com. Marley is very passionate about her work as an artist, and this can be seen in every piece she creates. She lives in the Toronto area.

Marley Berot's profile page

"A powerful book about a young Black hockey player who is navigating what it means to be BIG and small in the hockey space. Support from his family and community encourages him to disrupt the stereotypes and racism he is facing by finding joy and confidence in his skills and game."

Toronto Star

"Itah Sadu is one of my all time favourite storytellers. It's a fun book, it's easy to read, and it's one that I think even in the summer time there are kids that are thinking about playing hockey and the excitement of being on a hockey team."

CBC's Next Chapter

"Sadu’s message of judging people on their merits and not on their size or race is a valuable one."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"For a world trapped in a furious waterwheel, Itah deftly reveals it’s our possibility, small handful that we are, to dare to alter the course of the water. Freezing it, we become the handful which achieves the big goal."

Ron MacLean, Host of Hockey Night in Canada

"A powerful book about a young Black hockey player who needs to find the confidence to feel BIG on the ice when he faces systemic racism so that he can find the thrill in playing the game."

The Globe and Mail