The Hockey Skates by Karl Subban, illustrated by Maggie Zeng
CBC Books | Posted: September 19, 2023 4:37 PM | Last Updated: February 7
A funny picture book about waiting for a pair of skates
It was almost the first day of winter, and PK still has no skates to wear.
This time, PK waited impatiently for one more week before his skates arrived in the mail.
With a knock, knock, knock on the door, the mailman delivered the skates in a box. PK couldn't wait to open it...
Little PK Subban loves watching hockey on TV with his father, and he can't wait to finally go out and skate—just like his hockey heroes! With his mother's help, PK orders a pair of black, single-blade, size 7 skates. Now he just has to wait for them to come in the mail.
So he waits.
And waits.
Every new delivery brings hilarity and dismay as PK receives skates in the wrong size, wrong colour, wrong style—even a box that is completely empty! All the while, winter approaches and poor PK is very eager to get out on the rink. Even as he wonders if he will ever get to skate, his love of hockey pulls him to the sport in funny, imaginative ways.
Inspired by Karl Subban's son, NHL star PK Subban, The Hockey Skates is a story about maintaining perseverance and optimism through a series of comical misfortunes—all of which are brought to life by Maggie Zeng's charming illustrations. (From HarperCollins)
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The Hockey Skates is for ages 4 to 7.
Karl Subban has been a coach, teacher, principal and the father to three NHL hockey players. He is also the author of How We Did It: The Subban Plan for Success in Hockey, School and Life.
Maggie Zeng is a Montreal-based student at Concordia University. She is an illustrator, animator and concept artist of children's books. The first picture book she illustrated is This Is the Boat That Ben Built.