SAM THE ZAMBONI MAN
by James Stevenson & illustrated by Harvey Stevenson
A father and son team up for the first time in this warm intergenerational tàte-Ö-tàte. A visit to the city is a peak experience for Matt: Not only does he get to watch his grandfather, Sam, smooth the ice between periods of a hockey game on a great Zamboni machine, but on one night, he gets to sit on Sam's lap and drive the machine himself. The illustrator draws lines with a soft pencil and stays within them when brushing on the color, giving the scenes a restrained, conventional look; although Matt and Sam express their intimacy with frequent eye contact, they are mostly seen at a distance, partly or fully turned away from viewers. A competent collaboration, but not a memorable one. (Picture book. 6-8)