CM Magazine: Magic on Ice.

________________ CM . . . . Volume V Number 11 . . . . January 29, 1999

Magic on Ice.

Patty Cranston.
Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 1998.
48 pp., paper, $6.95.
ISBN 1-55074-455-0.

Subject Heading:
Skating-Juvenile literature.

Grades 4 - 6 / Ages 9 - 11.
Review by Lorraine Douglas.

** /4

excerpt:

Figure skating. It's popular and thrilling, it's "all or nothing."

These dramatic words introduce Cranston's second book on figure skating. She is a former figure skater, and her first book was Superstars on Ice (Kids Can, 1996). This volume takes a more eclectic approach. It opens with photos of the greatest moments of recent skate champions and then delves into the history of skating. There is an odd disconnect between the main text and some of the photos in the book. For example, when the text describes Sonja Henie, the captioned photo is of Barbara Ann Scott. It would have been interesting to see a picture of Sonja's innovative introduction of beige skates to competitions which is described in the text.

This is a high-interest item, but some of the photos are uneven in clarity and appeal. Despite these shortcomings, this up-to-date look at figure skating will be enjoyed by fans who enjoyed Cranston's popular first book.

Recommended with reservations.

Lorraine Douglas is the Youth Services Coordinator at the Winnipeg Public Library in Manitoba.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - JANUARY 29, 1999.