That is the Rink The place Jack Performs follows a follow and hockey sport on the rink the place Jack performs, lyrically weaving readers via technique classes, competitors, and aim scoring.
“That is the Rink The place Jack Performs,” by Stella Partheniou Grasso, illustrated by Chris Jones, is the final story within the anthology Our Recreation, which contains hockey tales from a number of Canadian authors and illustrators.
This guide leads readers via the quotidian life at a hockey rink, from the Zamboni drivers and practices to the hockey video games. The textual content flows lyrically via the occasions of the guide, cautious to at all times point out the participant Jack, who performs on the particular rink within the story, whom we by no means fairly meet, however as an alternative see the weather of the rink that make it particular and important to the gamers.
Readers are additionally taught about hockey phrases and components of the sport, similar to the usage of the Zamboni or why gamers could be put into the penalty field. Readers really feel like one of many gamers and are taken via the story as a result of there isn’t a particular essential character. The characters are comprised of varied Canadian wildlife, which is a enjoyable component within the illustrations.
There’s a large emphasis on Jack, however as a result of the guide doesn’t give attention to who Jack is, it could be complicated to have that participant as an integral piece of the story with out being a visible focus. Regardless of that, the lyrics permit readers to have a enjoyable time interacting with the stream of the textual content whereas exhibiting the significance of the individuals who make the world memorable.
This guide is pretty comparable in idea to Let’s Play a Hockey Recreation!, however it’s completely different sufficient to suit collectively within the anthology and never be too comparable. As a result of the tales are separated by By no means Sufficient Hockey!, which contributes to a break within the repetitiveness of the tales, they’ll complement each other nicely.
I might advocate this story to hockey lovers who wish to take pleasure in a lyrical hockey guide filled with their favorite Canadian wildlife.
Textual content copyright Stella Partheniou Grasso. Illustrations copyright Chris Jones.
Our Recreation! 5 Hockey Stories releases October 2025, pre-order your copy here.
Order That is the Rink The place Jack Performs here.
Contact the columnist: raegen.prohockeynews@gmail.com
Stella Partheniou Grasso is the creator of Take Me Out to the Ice Rink, 5 Busy Beavers, There Was an Previous Woman Who Swallowed a Puck, Over on the Rink and 101 Creepy Canadian Jokes. She has fond reminiscences of going to native hockey video games together with her mother and father and sister when she was rising up. Immediately, Stella lives together with her household in Ajax, Ontario, and stays a giant fan of the sport.
Chris Jones has been illustrating for kids for over ten years. He’s the illustrator of Take Me Out to the Ice Rink and That is the Rink The place Jack Performs. He lives in Halton Hills, Ontario, along with his two youngsters, fantastic spouse and spoiled canine.
