What a cute story. Third graders enjoyed listening to it read aloud by Ray Romano on Storyline. ( )

Realistic fiction book. Henry Holton does not want to follow the rest of the family into the world of hockey. He has other plans for himself. The fictional book challenges readers to break from traditions and make their own paths. ( )

(2.5) Henry Horton is from a hockey-mad family. He even has a dog named Gretzky. From the moment Henry is born, there is no question he will play; it’s just a matter of which position. He begins skating as a toddler, effortlessly swishing and swooshing along on the ice. However, when a hockey stick is placed in his hands, he becomes disastrously clumsy. (The illustrations show he’s responsible for dangerous player pile-ups.) He’s also utterly bored moving up and down the rink in pursuit of a puck, and he dislikes the aggression. A poster announcing the ice- dancing club’s annual extravaganza changes everything for Henry. He attends with his mum and thrills to the graceful movement to music, loves the gorgeous costumes, and aspires to owning a pair of skates with picks—quite unlike the new hockey skates he currently owns. It takes a hockey strike of sorts, some words with a sympathetic family member (who just happens to have an old pair of figure skates), and his father watching him during a free skate before things really change for Henry.

Bradley’s is clearly a picture book with an agenda, a worthy enough one, as it happens, but it’s all a bit predictable. To her credit, Bradley includes some realistic details. It isn’t just Henry’s dad who resists the idea of his son getting a pair of figure skates; Henry’s sister opines that ice dancing is for girls, and even his mum is reluctant to take him to the ice-dancing performance. Females can be just as mired in stereotypes as males, and I applaud the author for not shying away from this. Even if it’s a bit formulaic, we need this kind of book to expand the range of activities both girls and boys should be able to participate in.

A note on illustrator Sara Palacios’ work: it’s lively enough, I suppose, but cartoonish and pretty childish looking. A lot of the pictures look as though they’re done in pencil crayon, not that there’s anything wrong with that; I just would’ve liked a little more sophistication. ( )

Henry's family is hockey mad. Everyone plays hockey except Grandma but even she was MVP back in the day. But while Henry is a whiz on skates, he just doesn't have mad hockey skills. When he sees an ice-dancing performance at the rink, the magic comes alive for Henry. He wants to figure skate! His family disapproves--they're a hockey family, after all!--but an understanding Grandma and eventually, the rest of the family, helps make Henry's dream come true. A positive and encouraging depiction of following one's passion. ( )

Summary: Henry Holton Takes the Ice is about a little boy named Henry who grows up in a hockey crazy family- Henry's dad, mom, grandfather, uncle, his 23 cousins, and his big sister Sally all play hockey. His dog even dresses up in a hockey outfit! From the time Henry is little he is teething on hockey pucks and skating on the ice- brilliantly! However, Henry doesn't like playing hockey- it feels wrong and he would rather twist and weave on the ice. One day, Henry goes to see an ice dancing show with his mom, and he asks his mom for ice skates. His dad says ice dancing is for girls, and will not buy him the skates- but, after much moping and refusal, his grandmother comes to visit and lends Henry her old skates (it turns out she did some ice dancing herself)! Henry is so happy and comfortable dancing in his skates, and when his Dad sees, he decides to buy him his own ice skates, and lessons with a coach, too!

Personal Connection: I love this story! I loved how Henry broke out of his family's tradition of playing hockey to be who he truly was. I also liked that his Dad said that dancing was only for girls, and Henry remarked that there were lots of boys dancing too! This book challenges gender norms, and I love it's subtlety! I also liked that the author provided a glossary of hockey terms in the back of the book as well (with references to the text).

Extras:
-Illustrator website: http://www.sarapalaciosillustrations.com/
-Illustrator interview: https://angelapenadahle.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/illustrator-interview-sara-pala...

Application to Teaching: I would use this text in a unit on being yourself/being kind to others. I love that it challenges gender "norms" and is kid friendly- what makes a "girl" thing? What about a "boy" thing? Can girls do boy things? Can boys do girl things? It could also be used in a unit on families- different kinds of families with different passions- what does your family like to do together? Is there something you like to do that is different than your family? ( )