Sam the Zamboni Man

Stevenson, James

ISBN 10: 0688144853 ISBN 13: 9780688144852

Publisher: Greenwillow, 1998

Synopsis

When Matt and his grandfather, Sam the Zamboni Man, go to see a hockey game, not even the excitement of the game can compare to the surprise Sam has in store for his grandson.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 2?Matt's grandfather drives the Zamboni at a huge hockey stadium. When Matt is invited to visit him in the city, the boy is treated to a front-row seat at his first hockey game. He enjoys the action and waves proudly when his grandpa clears the ice during the break. After the game, his grandpa laces up some skates and, in the darkened stadium, shows the boy how he used to play hockey when he was young. The following night is even more special, as his grandpa sneaks them into the empty stadium, turns on all the lights, and lets Matt steer the Zamboni. This warm and gentle story may attract young hockey fans, but the relationship between the boy and his grandpa is more central. Neither character emerges as a distinct personality, though the shared love of the sport clearly connects the two. Harvey Stevenson's watercolor illustrations reflect the action well, subtly moving from scenes of calm conversation to the more lively action on the ice. Several views show young Matt from behind. Like the text, this technique moves the focus from the boy as a character to the sights and sounds he experiences. The result is a pleasant but unexciting book that gains appeal from its unusual subject matter.?Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library, OR
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews:

0-688-14485-3 A father and son team up for the first time in this warm intergenerational tte--tte. A visit to the city is a peak experience for Matt: Not only does he get to watch his grandfather, Sam, smooth the ice between periods of a hockey game on a great Zamboni machine, but on one night, he gets to sit on Sam's lap and drive the machine himself. The illustrator draws lines with a soft pencil and stays within them when brushing on the color, giving the scenes a restrained, conventional look; although Matt and Sam express their intimacy with frequent eye contact, they are mostly seen at a distance, partly or fully turned away from viewers. A competent collaboration, but not a memorable one. (Picture book. 6-8) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Greenwillow
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0688144853
• ISBN 13: 9780688144852
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Stevenson Harvey