As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Hockey books for kids split cleanly by age and format: sing-song board books for toddlers, illustrated fiction for early readers, and reference/activity books for kids who already love the sport. This list spans that range, from a classic Canadian picture-book staple to current Sports Illustrated Kids titles, all currently in print.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier | $8-$12 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Goodnight Hockey by Michael Dahl | $8-$10 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Let’s Play Hockey by Ginger Swift | $8-$10 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | My First Book of Hockey (Sports Illustrated Kids) | $5-$7 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Hockey Wars by Sam Lawrence and Ben Jackson | $8-$12 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | CJ Slinger, Left Winger by K.A. Robertson | $8-$12 | Amazon · eBay |
| 7 | Kids Book of Hockey by John Sias | $10-$15 | Amazon · eBay |
| 8 | The Best Hockey Activity Book for Kids | $7-$10 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier
A beloved Canadian picture-book classic about a boy mistakenly sent a Toronto Maple Leafs sweater instead of his beloved Montreal Canadiens jersey — widely considered a modern classic of Canadian children’s literature.
- Illustrated picture book format
- Multiple editions including an anniversary edition
- Based on author Roch Carrier’s own childhood
- Decades-long reputation as one of the defining hockey stories for kids, not just a licensed tie-in book
- Works for a wide age range, from read-aloud to early independent reading
- Rooted in a specific 1940s-50s rural Quebec setting, which some young readers may need a little context for
- Multiple editions exist at different price points — confirm which one you’re ordering
Goodnight Hockey by Michael Dahl
A Sports Illustrated Kids goodnight-format board book following a fast-paced outdoor hockey game, illustrated by Christina Forshay.
- Board book format
- Sports Illustrated Kids branded series
- Rhyming goodnight-book structure
- Familiar goodnight-book rhythm makes it an easy bedtime read for the youngest hockey fans
- Sturdy board book format holds up to toddler handling
- Aimed squarely at very young children — not much content for an older reader
- Part of a broader sports-goodnight series, so less unique than a standalone title
Let’s Play Hockey by Ginger Swift
A lift-the-flap board book that introduces hockey basics — positions like goalie and referee — through animal players, illustrated by Katheryn Selbert.
- Lift-the-flap interactive board book
- Introduces basic hockey positions and terms
- Animal-character illustrations
- Interactive flaps add engagement for toddlers beyond straight text
- Introduces real hockey vocabulary (goalie, referee) in an age-appropriate way
- Aimed at the youngest end of the age range — limited content depth for older kids
- Flap mechanisms can wear out with heavy repeated use, as with most lift-the-flap books
My First Book of Hockey (Sports Illustrated Kids)
A Rookie Book-format introduction to hockey with simple text and full-color photographs rather than illustrations, from the Sports Illustrated Kids line.
- Full-color photograph illustrations
- Simple, short sentences for early readers
- Sports Illustrated Kids Rookie Book series
- Real photography instead of illustrations gives young fans an accurate look at the actual sport
- Simple text makes it accessible for beginning independent readers
- Basic informational format, not a story — less engaging as a bedtime narrative read
- Shorter and less detailed than the activity or reference books here
Hockey Wars by Sam Lawrence and Ben Jackson
A middle-grade fiction chapter book following best friends Millie and Cameron, placed on rival teams in a friendly hockey rivalry.
- Illustrated middle-grade chapter book
- Story-driven narrative about friendship and competition
- Part of a broader sports-fiction series
- Story format works well for kids who’ve outgrown picture books but aren’t ready for dense text
- Themes of friendship and sportsmanship alongside the hockey content
- Fiction, not a hockey reference or skills book
- Aimed at a narrower age band (roughly 8-12) than the picture books here
CJ Slinger, Left Winger by K.A. Robertson
A chapter book about a kid new to a hockey team still learning the rules and finding his place — a relatable story for a young player just starting out.
- Illustrated early chapter book
- Story centers on a new player learning the sport
- Part of a series following the same character
- Relatable premise for a kid who’s actually new to playing hockey themselves
- Series format gives room for a young reader to continue with sequels if they like it
- Narrative fiction rather than instructional content
- Best suited to early-chapter-book readers, not toddlers or teens
Kids Book of Hockey by John Sias
A reference-style book covering hockey basics and techniques, aimed at kids who are actually beginning to play, not just fans.
- Reference/instructional format
- Covers basic rules and playing techniques
- Aimed at beginning youth players
- More instructional depth than the picture books here, useful for an actual beginning player
- Covers technique basics a parent coaching a young player might not know themselves
- Less narrative or entertainment value than the fiction titles here
- Best matched to a kid already committed to playing, not a casual young fan
The Best Hockey Activity Book for Kids
An activity book built around hockey — word searches, coloring pages, mazes, scrambles, fun facts, and jokes.
- Activity book format (puzzles, coloring, word searches)
- Hockey trivia and jokes throughout
- Designed for solo or car/travel use
- Good for a hockey-loving kid who wants something to do, not just something to be read to
- Works well as a travel or waiting-room activity for a hockey family
- Not a story or reference book — purely activity-based content
- One-time-use pages (coloring, mazes) mean less long-term reread value than a story book
Buying tips
- For toddlers, the board books (Goodnight Hockey, Let’s Play Hockey, My First Book of Hockey) are the right format — sturdy pages and simple text over story depth.
- For a kid who actually plays, Kids Book of Hockey leans instructional in a way the picture books and fiction titles here don’t — pair it with a fiction title like Hockey Wars for a mix of story and skill-building.
- The Hockey Sweater works across the widest age range of anything on this list, from a read-aloud picture book for younger kids to independent reading for older ones.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.