Stompin' Tom Connors' Hockey Night Tonight: The Children's Book

I love it! Back in 2002 Nimbus Publishing combined with Canadian music legend Stompin' Tom Connors to change his iconic song "The Hockey Song" into a children's book, Hockey Night Tonight .

With 24 pages wonderfully illustrated by Brenda Jones, I can't think of a better way to pass on this great Canadian tradition to the next generation.

I dare you to read this book to your kids and not break out into song . . . and smiles!

Hello out there!
We're on the air!
It's hockey night tonight!

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

Also be sure to check out another Stompin Tom song turned into children's book, Bud the Spud.

The Year of the Chicago Blackhawks

Andrew Podnieks and the NHL have teamed up again for their annual summer release honouring the Stanley Cup champions. Of course that means The Year of the Chicago Blackhawks: Celebrating the 2013 Stanley Cup Champions is an absolute must-have for all Chicago fans.

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

Now I know in the past I've been a little bit critical of this series. It is rushed out just a few weeks after the hockey season has ended and as a result follows a rigid template year after year. I would like to see the NHL take a little more time and come up with something a little more unique from year to year. The Stanley Cup champion and their fans deserve that.

But the 2013 release, published by Fenn/McClelland and Stewart, is a gem as is. The Blackhawks season, which started with an unprecedented winning streak and ended with Lord Stanley's mug, is brilliantly captured by Podnieks' writing and by the beautiful photography that fills the 144 pages of this paperback. My mom always told me presentation is very important, and these guys delivered.

Just like the Blackhawks did. A deserving keepsake for a deserving champion. Hawks fans will love reliving such an amazing season with each turn of the page.

Buy The Book: Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com

If you are interested in this title, you my also like Unstoppable!: The Chicago Blackhawks' Dominant 2013 Championship Season by the Chicago Daily Herald.

Before The Internet Sports Fans Had Zander Hollander

There is an absolutely fantastic feature in the New York Times this week about Zander Hollander. For nearly three decades he wrote annual "Complete Handbooks" about hockey, baseball, football and basketball. He wrote over 300 sports books over 45 years. I have most of the hockey books, though a couple of seasons are very hard to get a hold of.

These books were the bible of sports back then, spreading statistics and player biography information that simply was not compiled in such a "complete" and "handy" format until the internet came along. Sports fans of that era owe Hollander a debt of gratitutde.

This story, authored by Pete Croatto, is a celebration of Hollander's work and life. But it does have a sad ending.

From 1971 to 1997, Hollander edited sports yearbooks, brick-sized tomes known as Complete Handbooks, which in the pre-Internet era were almost holy objects to a certain type of sports-crazed youngster. Here, in one glorious place, was information — statistics, team rosters, records, schedules, predictions for the coming season and more — freed from the restrictions of newspaper column inches and far beyond what a still embryonic cable television system was providing.

In black and white were photos and detailed profiles of players from every team, players that even the most devoted fans might glimpse only in a rare nationally televised network game of the week or an All-Star contest, if at all. The work was Hollander’s driving force. Then he had a stroke, with Alzheimer’s following shortly after. Now 90, he no longer remembers the books that he struggled to produce, that brought him professional fulfillment, friendships and minor fame.

Here's the full story, including the complete behind-the-scenes look at how Hollander produced so many books every year.

The Big Book of Hockey for Kids by Eric Zweig

Find out EVERYTHING there is to know about hockey!

Who are the "Original Six"? What are some of the most historic hockey games? What jobs are available in the hockey industry, other than being an NHL all-star?

The Big Book of Hockey for Kids will answer all your questions, and more! From the first game (with roots in Irish hurling and Scottish shinty) to the billion-dollar industry it is today — including the evolution of hockey equipment, the Stanley Cup, and every NHL team — fans will learn the complete A to Z of hockey.

Buy The Book - Amazon.ca - Chapters - Amazon.com