Addition to library.
Susan Klinck of the children’s section of the Renfrew Public Library, accepts this free copy of Marshall Plays Hockey from Audrey VanderVelde, right. The book was just published by VanderVelde’s daughter-in-law, photojournalist Lisa VanderVelde of Vernon, B.C.
Steve Newman, Renfrew Mercury
“He was a regular,” says Renfrew resident Audrey VanderVelde, remembering several years ago when her young son Shawn attended the children’s section of the Renfrew Public Library.
This recent visit to the library, though, is about the 2012 publication of a book written by Shawn’s wife, photojournalist Lisa VanderVelde, of Vernon, B.C.
Make that author, too, since Lisa wrote the text and sister Erin Black, who lives in Dunedin, New Zealand, did the illustrations for the pre-schoolers’ picture book about hockey.
Marshall Plays Hockey is about Marshall the moose, who decides to tackle the game of hockey, even though he has never donned a pair of skates.
Betty the beaver tells Marshall he can’t play hockey because he’s a moose, but Marshall isn’t dissuaded, and he soldiers on after watching children enjoy the game on the local pond.
Other characters include a Canada goose, deer and bear.
The book is dedicated to the author’s daughter Anneke and son Lucas, and the illustrator’s son Jake.
Shawn VanderVelde, who grew up in Renfrew, says the book has been a real hit with his four-year-old son, who’s in love with hockey.
“I think it’s fantastic that people are really accepting and loving the book,” says Shawn. “Kids love seeing animals doing things,” he adds, noting a second book by the sisters may feature Marshall the moose, other characters and perhaps the sport of ruby, which New Zealanders are crazy about.
Most reassuring to Lisa is the popularity of Marshall the moose.
“The day after I read him the book for the first time, he (Lucas) was drawing pictures of Marshall,” says Lisa, who was motivated to write the book after finding few hockey books for pre-schoolers.
Knowing that parents Lisa and Shawn both grew up with books, Audrey says, “I’m just happy for them, that the book has come out in a wonderful project.”
Copies of the Marshall Plays Hockey are available from Valley Source for Sports and A Sense of Country in Renfrew. Published by Wayside Press in Vernon, the book costs $12.99.