• Age: 5 to 8
• Grade: k to 3
• Reading age: 5 to 8

The legendary goalie who revolutionized the game of hockey

Young Jacques Plante’s way of playing hockey may look different from everyone else’s. Instead of a puck, he uses a tennis ball, and his shin pads are made out of potato sacks and wooden slats. But that’s not going to stop him. He loves the game.

Jacques is drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in his mid-twenties. Fans love the unstoppable goalie as he leads his team to one victory after another. But there’s a price to pay: pucks to the face result in a broken jaw, broken cheekbones, multiple stitches, and even a skull fracture. 

One day, Jacques has had enough. He goes on the ice wearing a fiberglass mask. The coach orders him to take it off.

Finally, at a game against the Rangers, when yet another puck hits Jacques square in the face, he puts his foot down. He will not continue to play unless he’s allowed to wear a mask.

Young hockey fans will enjoy this story of Jacques Plante, whose determination and love of the game brought about a revolutionary change to how it is played. 

*A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Si pudiera, Andrée Poulin se la pasaría leyendo todo el día. Su amor por la lectura es lo que la llevó a escribir. Después de trabajar como periodista durante muchos años, trabajó en el desarrollo internacional. Ella ha escrito más de treinta libros para niños de todas las edades. Muchos han ganado premios, especialmente el TD Children’s Literature Award (Premio de Literatura Infantil TD, en francés) para La plus grosse poutine du monde, ahora traducido al inglés y publicado por Annick Press como The Biggest Poutine in the World (2016). Sus cuentos tratan sobre la amistad, la empatía, la tolerancia, la pobreza y la solidaridad.

Andrée cree que los libros pueden cambiar el mundo. Al hacer que los escenarios de sus cuentos sean en Canadá, África y Asia, lleva a sus lectores a vivir aventuras que les permiten descubrir otras culturas, como lo hace en Pablo encuentra un tesoro. 

A Andrée le encanta compartir su pasión por la lectura y su placer por escribir con niños. Ella escribe un blog, revisa libros para la Campaña Nacional de Lectura y ofrece talleres para jóvenes en escuelas y bibliotecas. 

Andrée nació y se crió en Orléans, Ontario. Ella ahora vive en Gatineau, Quebec. 

If she could, Andrée Poulin would read from morning to night. Her love of reading is what brought her to writing. After working as a journalist for many years, she worked in international development. She has written over thirty books for children of all ages. Many have won awards, most notably the TD Children’s Literature Award (French language) for La plus grosse poutine du monde, now translated into English and published by Annick Press as The Biggest Poutine in the World (2016). Her stories deal with friendship, empathy, tolerance, poverty, and solidarity. 

Andrée believes that books can change the world. By setting her stories in Canada, Africa, and Asia, she takes her readers on adventures in discovering other cultures, as she does in Pablo Finds a Treasure (2016, available in Spanish in Fall 2018). Her latest book with Annick Press is That’s Not Hockey! (Fall 2018), a picture book based on the life of the inventor of the goalie mask, Jacques Plante. 

Andrée loves to share her passion for reading and her pleasure for writing with children. She writes a blog, reviews books for the National Reading Campaign, and gives workshops for youth in schools and libraries. 

Andrée was born and raised in Orléans, Ontario. She now lives in Gatineau, Quebec.

Andrée Poulin's profile page

FÉLIX GIRARD is a professional illustrator living in Quebec City. His work has been published and exhibited numerous times around the world.

Félix Girard's profile page

• Commended, TD Summer Reading Club, Top 75 Recommended Reads
• Joint winner, Storytelling World Award
• Winner, Blue Spruce Award
• Short-listed, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre
• Short-listed, Quebec Writers’ Federation Award

“Hockey fans will be thrilled with this well-told story, and its glimpse at old-time hockey in Felix Girard’s action-packed illustrations.” 

Sal’s Fiction Addiction, 08/19/18

“A clever introduction to the game-changing career of profession hockey goalie Jacques Plante.” 

Kirkus Reviews, 07/01/18

“Poulin’s taut storytelling style makes this picture book accessible to even the youngest readers while giving us a complete plot populated by well-rounded characters.” 

Montreal Review of Books, Summer/18

“Big, bold, and colorful . . . a memorable introduction to a legendary, innovative hockey player.” 

Booklist, 08/01/18