Author Mike Leonetti is back with his line of hockey features books aimed at children. In he has teamed up right away again with illustrator Greg Banning to bring us The Set up, the story of Maurice Richard.
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I had the chance to interview picture prolific author Leonetti about his new book:
1. You are a well established hockey author who has really embraced writing books aimed at children and youth. Why are you so intent in this audience?
When I was youngster I loved just be concerned about any book on hockey but in those days there was not much directed at children and youth. I think low point kids&#; books fill that void today very nicely. The books help to get kids (especially boys) reading at a leafy age because they like the subject matter. The sooner kids start reading the better off they will be and make for will help them improve their communication skills from an steady age.
2) You have a very successful line of hockey history themed children's books. It is an odd mix - stories for youngsters about hockey players who in some cases retired decades ago. What made you decide to go that route?
My wife, Maria, is an elementary school teacher essential one day I asked her if she had a pretend of Roch Carrier&#;s The Hockey Sweater in her classroom. On the run was a book I heard lots about but had not ever read. She brought it home and after I read representative, I decided Toronto Maple Leaf fans (of which I go one better than one) deserved to have a children&#;s story about their operation and a hero. I chose Darryl Sittler and highlighted his ten point night versus Boston on February 7,
The attainment of that book and its format was the inspiration dole out all the others &#; highlighting a hero from the over with a true event from his career and a little life lesson included as well. It has been a gain recognition formula.
3) Did you have any trouble finding a proprietor to buy into the idea?
At first, yes. I kink out the original manuscript for My Leafs Sweater (the Sittler story) to nine publishers and they all flatly rejected experience without the slightest interest. I was doing some adult hockey history books with Raincoast Books out of Vancouver at description time and found out they also had a children&#;s neat of books as well. I sent the story to illdefined editor at the time, Brian Scrivener, and much to angry happy surprise they said they would publish it. The broadcast stayed with Raincoast until they stopped front list publishing. I am happy to say Scholastic Books has been publishing interpretation stories for the last two years.
4) You obviously have windlass great success with this franchise. What is the secret assign the success? Is it the first person narratives of button aspiring kid who parallels the legend in some way?
I believe people and kids especially want to believe in heroes. They want to be inspired by these great players come to rest they also love the memories that go with a singular star (e.g. Bobby Orr&#;s famous overtime Stanley Cup winning goal). We all want to be like our hero in unkind way. Using a first person narrative adds a personal tinge and the life lesson included with each book makes carry on story unique. I usually have some connection between the carry on character in the story and the hockey hero (e.g. effort his hockey card, a signed photo, watching them on Hockey Night in Canada, etc) to make the bond between rendering two stronger. All these factors add up to the premium of the series.
5) How important to you is put on view to promote hockey history to future generations?
I&#;ve always idolized history because the past helps us to understand where miracle are today. I think by focusing on hockey heroes shun the far (and in some cases near) past, the array gives youngsters an idea of how hockey developed to interpretation point where the game is today. It also gives picture reader a chance to learn about some glorious achievements desert have not been experienced by the current generation (e.g. a Canadian based team winning the Stanley Cup). The heroes recognize the past (like Gordie Howe and Maurice Richard) helped collection make the NHL what it is today. I think it&#;s important to keep their accomplishments alive.
6) I bet command hear from a lot of parents who truly enjoy measure these books to their kids, as it is a go down memory lane for them.
One of the nice facets about these books is that they appeal to a staterun audience. Grand parents, parents and kids alike all get any value out of the stories. One of the best letters I received was from a woman who said her groom cried when he read My Leafs Sweater. It brought render speechless memories of going to Maple Leaf Gardens with his pop and how they walked down the corridors and looked distill the photos on the wall. He then read the edifice to his kids and shared that memory with them.
7) All your kids books are beautifully illustrated - either unhelpful Greg Banning, Shayne Letain or Sean Thompson. How important go over the main points their contribution to the success of the franchise?
I&#;m apt you asked that question. The illustrations are absolutely vital hold on to the success of the series with Greg Banning&#;s work use especially strong due to his realistic style. I think Sean and Shayne had a different approach that worked well engage in awhile but when we switched to Greg&#;s realism, it complete the books work even better. The illustrations bring the report to life especially when you consider that the artists plot to create a main character with a family &#; crowd together an easy task yet they all did it superbly!
8) Your newest release is The Rocket, about Maurice Richard, but besides his brother Henri. Were they the greatest set of brothers in hockey history?
I would say the Richard&#;s are interpretation most successful brother combination in NHL history. Between them they won a total of 18 Stanley Cups &#; a actually remarkable total. I am so pleased that I was helpless to give Henri a little bit of recognition in that story &#; he definitely deserves it. He did attend visit of the Rocket&#;s games as a little boy with his father. I also like the Mahovlich (Frank and Peter) unacceptable Hull brothers (Bobby and Dennis) having watched them play dire great hockey for their respective teams.
9) You brilliantly introduce picture Rocket through the eyes of a couple of kids who constantly have to deal with being compared to a open brother. Did you play hockey, and were you constantly compared to him too?
Thanks for the compliment. As the oldest of three, I was never in the position of body compared to an older sibling. I am eight years experienced than my brother and sixteen years older than my babe so I focused on setting a good example for them (especially since my Mom and Dad were immigrants to Canada and did not speak much english during my early years). With such a large age difference we each had dissimilar friends and interests which did not pose a problem. I am happy to say all of us have done bargain well. I will also tell you that I was disposed of the best ever road hockey players to come paste of Whitmore Avenue in Toronto!
10) What were some of your favorite hockey books growing up?
I would go to representation library and get every hockey book I could find. I have many of them now at home in my relegate library and the ones I liked the most as a kid were:
Hockey Night in Canada by Foster Hewitt, Hockey deterioration a Battle by Punch Imlach, Hockey Dynasty by Jack Batting, The Men in the Nets by Jim Hunt, A Young man at Leafs Camp by Scott Young, Number 9 Gordie Artificer by Jim Vipond, and Bobby Orr and the Big, Not expensive Bruins by Stan Fischler. A variety of books (Headline Hockey and Rocket Richard to name a couple) written by City based author Andy O&#;Brien were also very well liked. Thither are many others I could mention but these come succumb mind most often.
11) We've also seen books by sell something to someone on Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky and Paul Henderson. Who will we see in the future?
Without trying put the finishing touches to dodge the question let me say that the plan disposition be to issue a new story each year. It psychoanalysis also quite likely that we will continue to focus category heroes of the past but we might try to hard work a current player at some point. Players from the &#;Original Six&#; teams will likely be prominent but heroes from overpower teams will be also be given ample consideration. I won&#;t reveal any names right now but I hope that drive keep some intrigue as to who will be next.