Book Review: The Day the Dinosaurs Played Hockey

It’s the time of year and season when we all need to start thinking about holiday gift buying and giving.

Every year, Pro Hockey News reviews a variety of hockey-related books to add to your collection after an enjoyable read.

This year is no exception and we are starting off our book reviews with The Day the Dinosaurs Played Hockey.

For most of 2017, Pro Hockey News has benefited from the placement of weekly cartoons on our home page from James DeMarco who has created a world around a youth goaltender who plays the game with the passion and ferocity we all remember from our own youth.

The young goalie, Small Saves, navigates through life’s trials and events as a true hockey fan and player.

This year, DeMarco penned a book about Small Saves and his experience one day at school.

Small Saves is delighted by stories of dinosaurs and he is enthralled by them. He expects to see dinosaurs one day.

But he learns from his teacher that dinosaurs no longer roam the earth and Small Saves is devastated.

Once home, Small Saves dreams and imagines playing hockey with his favorite ancient beasts.

Feeling like we have given away too much of the story, suffice to say that Small Saves finds his passion come to life in his bedroom as he plays with and against a host of dinosaur hockey players.

DeMarco has created a touching and heartfelt story of this young goalie. The Day the Dinosaurs Played Hockey is a terrific book for the young and old hockey player. The artwork, drawn by DeMarco, complements the story line and builds the excitement for Small Saves’ game.

The drawings of Small Saves and the dinosaurs are indeed cartoons, but DeMarco treats the dinosaurs with enough honesty, despite their donning of skates and handling of sticks and pucks, to keep them as real looking as possible for the reader.

There is something exceptionally touching about the closing pages and if you need or want to know why you will just need to pick up a copy of The Day the Dinosaurs Played Hockey.

James has created a terrific story and provided the visual treats to go along with it.

We were anxious to read and review the book and we were not disappointed.

You will find The Day the Dinosaurs Played Hockey on Amazon.com via this link, CLICK HERE.

The last page of the book is a list of the dinosaurs that played in the Small Saves game with the proper pronunciations for each.