16 Medal-Worthy Ice Skating Books for Kids
by Devon A. Corneal
Winter is here, which means it’s time for one of our favorite winter sports: skating! From dazzling jumps and graceful dancing to rough-and-tumble hockey, there’s something captivating about athletes on ice. We’ve compiled a list of books about ice skating and hockey for everyone from preschoolers to middle grade readers. We hope these stories will inspire and encourage both the next generation of professional athletes and those just looking for a little fun on the ice!
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Little Red Gliding Hood
This clever fractured fairy tale finds Little Red looking for a skating partner and making a truly unexpected (and potentially dangerous) choice.
(Ages 2 – 5) -
A Day for Skating
Available from:A rhyming picture book that starts with a young girl’s first day out on the ice and ends with a bedtime routine as cozy as can be, A Day for Skating is ideal for wintertime reading.
(Ages 3 – 7)Also available from: -
It's a Big World, Little Pig!
Poppy Pig dreams of being a figure skater, but soon learns that a lot of hard work goes into gliding and twirling on the ice. Written by Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi, who knows a thing or two about hard work, this book will inspire readers to keep trying and dream big!
(Ages 4 – 8) -
When the Moon Comes
Available from:This timeless story brings together everything needed for a perfect night of hockey: a full moon, a frozen pond, and good friends. When the Moon Comes is a wonderful reminder that our best memories may not involve roaring crowds or flashy uniforms, but rather, time spent together doing things we love.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
Bobby Orr and the Hand-Me-Down Skates
Available from:This true story about ice hockey giant Bobby Orr is a total gem. As a young boy obsessed with hockey, Bobby has his eyes on a shiny new pair of skates. But when his birthday comes around, it’s a pair of hand-me-downs waiting for him — a gift he soon can’t live without.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
Mice on Ice
Available from:Newly independent readers will love taking this one for a spin. As a bunch of mice swirl around on the ice, their tracks make the shape of a cat, who comes to life! Cut-paper collage-like illustrations make this story as visually appealing as it sounds.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
The Magic Hockey Stick
Available from:When Tracy’s parents win the Wayne Gretzky’s hockey stick at an auction, Tracy’s hockey skills suddenly soar out of this world. Gretzky, meanwhile, embarks on a career-defining slump. Will Tracy be able to give up the magic hockey stick?
(Ages 5 – 8)Also available from: -
Clean Sweep! Frank Zamboni’s Ice Machine
Available from:Anyone who appreciates an ice rink also has a deep appreciation for the hardworking Zamboni. This engaging picture-book biography from the Great Ideas series follows Frank Zamboni as he toils and tinkers away for nine years to create the machine that means we can spend even more time on the ice.
(Ages 5 – 8)Also available from: -
Kate Skates
Available from:When Kate’s grandmother gives her a new pair of skates, Kate is certain that she’s going to be a master figure skater in no time. But it turns out that ice skating, like any other skill, takes hard work, and Kate’s embarrassed that her little sister is so much better on the ice. Will Kate persevere?
(Ages 6 – 7)Also available from: -
Sparkling Skates #13
Available from:Magic puppy Storm is back, this time as a tiny Scottish Terrier pup ready to make Lauren’s ice skating dreams come true. If it comes at the cost of turning her bedroom into an ice rink, well, what could go wrong?
(Ages 6 – 8)Also available from: -
Young Cam Jansen and the Ice Skate Mystery
Available from:Cam Jansen knows how to solve a mystery, and when her friend Eric loses their locker key at the ice rink, Cam hops confidently on the case! A great friend, ice skater, and detective? Talk about a triple threat.
(Ages 6 – 8)Also available from: -
The Hockey Ring Hunt
Available from:Twins Zach and Zoe are mystery-solving pros, but hunting for clues is the last thing on their minds when they get to attend a Boston Bruins hockey practice. Just before game time, though, one of the players reveals he lost his lucky necklace, and Zach and Zoe get to work.
(Ages 6 – 9)Also available from: -
Hockey Hero
Available from:Unlike the other protagonists on this list, young Tommy isn’t impatient to get on the ice. In fact, he’s worried he won’t be able to live up to his family’s tradition of athletic excellence. Slowly but surely, Tommy rises through the ranks.
(Ages 6 – 9)Also available from: -
The Hockey Sweater
Available from:A timeless read of boyhood and devotion, The Hockey Sweater depicts the author as a young hockey fan, who — like everyone else he knows — could live in his Montreal Canadiens jersey. But when it’s time for a new one, he accidentally winds up with a jersey from the rival Toronto team. The horror!
(Ages 7 – 9)Also available from: -
Babymouse #7: Skater Girl
Available from:Longtime Babymouse fans and those new to the action-packed series will love this riveting tale. Even Babymouse is surprised by her prodigious figure-skating talent, but when Olympic coach Bearnakorva takes the ingénue under her wing, will Babymouse be able to live up to the gold standard?
(Ages 7 – 10)Also available from: -
Skating Shoes
Rediscover the middle grade classic that’s still a must-read today. Prescribed time on the ice after a difficult illness, Harriet Johnson meets and befriends Lalla Moore, an orphan training for figure skating greatness. Affection turns to competition in this ultra-relatable, poignant read.
(Ages 8 – 12)
