Splinters - Hardcover

KEVIN SYLVESTER is a renowned author, illustrator, and broadcaster. An award-winning sportscaster for seven years, he is well-known to listeners of CBC Radio One for broadcasting national sports and anchoring radio coverage for four Olympic Games. He is now a regular on "Here and Now," "The Current," and "The Sunday Edition." Kevin Sylvester's book for children, Sports Hall of Weird, was named a Silver Birch Honor Book and a Rocky Mountain Honor Book. His second book, Gold Medal for Weird, won the Silver Birch, was a Willow Award nominee, and was named a Gold Medal Choice for the Junior Library Guild in the United States. He is also the author of Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo Murders and Game Day. Kevin Sylvester lives in Toronto with his wife and daughters.

Gr 1-2–The Cinderella story plus hockey equals a new twist on an old favorite. Cindy is a destitute but excellent hockey player who can't catch a break. When she finally saves enough money to join a league, it's dominated by two evil sisters and their mother, the coach. They keep Cindy on the bench and nickname her "Splinters." When the acclaimed coach Charmaine Prince holds tryouts for the All-Star team, Cindy needs the help of her Fairy Goaltender to get to the rink on time on a new Zamboni. As she races away before the final bell rings, she loses her golden skate. In true Cinderella style, she is reunited with the skate, makes the team, and plays hockey happily ever after. The watercolor and pencil illustrations depict the actions and emotions of the characters perfectly. The facial expressions are spot-on. There is a lot of text in this tale, but the art keeps it from being overwhelming. This reworking of a classic tale has a few missed shots but overall it meets its goal in being clever.Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH
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