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2003
finalists.

2003 Hackmatack

Children's Choice Book Award/Prix littéraire - le choix de jeunes

Did you know that in the early days of basketball, players used an overhead dribble? Did you know that the first bowling pins were so light, they sometimes flew right out the window of the bowling club? Did you know that long before the modern game of ice hockey, there was Oochamkunutk, played by the Mi'kmaq?

Crammed with fascinating facts and information, Shooting Hoops and Skating Loops tells the story of ten inventions that have changed the way we spend our leisure time. From peach baskets that became basketball hoops to improvised ice skates that all but help the skater fly, this book is a celebration of ingenuity - and of fun!

Alannah Hegedus was born in Vancouver and moved to Ontario with her husband and their son. She is a librarian and is, herself, very handy and inventive. Kaitlin Rainey is a doctoral student in English and an actress. They also co-wrote Bleeps and Blips to Rocket Ships.

Bill Slavin has illustrated numerous books of non-fiction, specializing in creating images that inform as well as entertain. In addition to illustrating both of Hegedus and Rainey's books for Tundra, he illutrated Christopher Moore's The Big Book of Canada.

Suggested Activities

• Play sports!
• With some help from adults, make snowsnakes and play the game.
• Have fun designing and making an "owner stick" using instructions in the book.
• Using a piece of cardboard, draw and cut out a hockey mask. Decorate it.
• Learn how to canoe and kayak.
• Learn how to walk on snowshoes. Then, try running on them!
• At your school, or in your community, recreate an early winter carnival, including a pretend battle on snowshoes-with pretend torches, or snowballs.
• Try a game of basketball with James Naesmith's original rules. How are they different from today's?