On The Line

Winters, Kari-Lynn. (2021). Illustrated by Scot Ritchie. On

In a read-aloud perfect for conversations about team stewardship and growth mindset, a boy overshadowed by a family of skilled hockey players finds an innovative way to shine.

In Jackson Moore’s small town, his family is known for producing hockey heroes—but he worries that he’ll never measure up to their amazing skills. On the ice he feels like a potato on skates, and his teammates begin to wonder if he really is a Moore. Then, when a shortage of equipment puts his team at risk of losing their spot in the Winterfest Tournament, Jackson makes a game plan of his own and realizes that his problem-solving and stewardship abilities are hallmarks of a true MVP.

Just like Jackson, award-winning author Kari-Lynn Winters grew up playing in the shadow of a big hockey family. In On the Line she demonstrates with heart and humor how scoring goals is not the only path to team heroism. An author’s note furthers the conversation about sportsmanship, teamwork, and building supportive communities. Lively art by award-winning illustrator Scot Ritchie perfectly captures the action on and off the ice as Jackson learns to celebrate the skills he has—and to enjoy the game in spite of the ones he doesn’t.


  • Reading level: ages 4-7

  • Published By Pajama Press

  • ISBN 978-1-77278-218-9

Reviews

  • "Another picture book about a kid who plays hockey, On the Line shows that there is more to sport than athletics. Highly recommended."

    Review by Toby Cygman, CM: Canadian Review of Materials (Oct. 15, 2021)

  • "This story gave me some very Mighty Ducks vibes and being a huge fan of the movies and the new series, I really enjoyed this book. I grew up in a hockey family but neither of my kids care to play the sport so at times hockey stories can be a tough sell for us. I know so many hockey fans who will really enjoy this story and so many parents who will love the aspect of community and giving back that Kari-Lynn Winters has built into the text. With the hockey community acknowledging the ways that teams are boosting their communities, it’s a bonus to have a story to help them along. I love that we are seeing stories about kindness and leadership off the ice as well as on the ice. We need to show readers that being a team player and a team leader is more than how they play, it’s how they create opportunities and give back off the ice too. Scot Richie’s illustrations are colourful and filled with excellent hockey action. I love all of the team members in their various iterations of equipment, most not appropriate for playing hockey. He creates a beautiful community throughout the story that readers will love."

    Storytime with Stephanie (Oct. 14, 2021), Review by Stephanie Lamb

  • "On the surface this is a tale of a young hockey player finding his place, but it is so much more than that. The central character is Jackson Moore, a boy that lives in a small town where hockey is an important part of the community. Several members of his family have been players that have been great assets to their team, described as hockey heroes. Everyone seems to be looking for Jackson to follow in their footsteps, but he has doubts. Mostly he keeps his doubts to himself while wondering what will happen if he doesn’t live up to these expectations."

    Canadian Bookworm (Sept. 9, 2021)

  • "Believe in yourself, trust your talents, and find resilience in stories."

    Kirkus Reviews (June 29, 2021)

  • "A great read aloud for the introduction of being part of a team, reinforcing perseverance, believing in oneself, and valuing everyone’s talents. This would be nice for coaches to share with their elementary school teams."

    Youth Services Book Review (July 25, 2021)

Awards

Winner of the Sports category, Northern Lights Book Awards (2021).

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