Best Children’s Books About Hockey (2026): 5 Picks

The best children’s books about hockey make a cold rink feel like home, whether the reader is a toddler lifting flaps or a young fan reading true tales of the greats. This list is for parents, grandparents and gift-buyers shopping for young hockey fans, and we compared five books by fit for the reader, contents and edition: a rhyming bedtime story, a hockey alphabet, a lift-a-flap board book, an illustrated first guide and a collection of true tales.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Goodnight Hockey by Dahl	9.7/10	Buy
2	My First Book of Hockey	9.7/10	Buy
3	Z is for Zamboni by Napier	9.7/10	Buy
4	Let's Play Hockey! by Swift	9.6/10	Buy
5	Inspirational Hockey Stories	9.6/10	Buy

1

Goodnight Hockey by Dahl

Michael Dahl·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A rhyming bedtime picture book that follows a hockey game from first puck drop to final buzzer, for ages 4 to 7.

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Pros

• Rhyming bedtime story following a full hockey game
• Praised by Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal
• Ages 4 to 7, with a gentle ending for bedtime

Cons

• One game story; no facts or glossary
• Reading age differs: description says 4 to 7, customers say 1 to 4
• Part of a series; this is one bedtime book

2

My First Book of Hockey

Sports Illustrated Kids·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 48-page illustrated guide to hockey basics with action photography and a glossary, for ages 3 to 7.

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Pros

• 48 pages with action photography and a full glossary
• Revised and updated 2024 edition
• Ages 3 to 7, grades K to 2; a rookie character guides each page

Cons

• More of a guide than a story
• Photography-heavy; less read-aloud rhythm
• The 2024 edition may supersede older copies

3

Z is for Zamboni by Napier

Matt M. Napier·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 32-page hockey alphabet book from Arena to Zamboni, with rhymes and fact sidebars, for ages 1 to 4.

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Pros

• Alphabet format teaches ABCs through hockey
• Sidebars with facts on Gretzky and the Hall of Fame
• Ages 1 to 4, Preschool to grade 1

Cons

• Abridged edition; the original is from 2006
• 32 pages; the shortest picture book here
• Alphabet format limits the story

4

Let's Play Hockey! by Swift

Ginger Swift·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 12-page lift-a-flap board book with 6 sturdy flaps introducing hockey rules and gear, for babies to age 2.

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Pros

• 6 sturdy lift-a-flaps for interactive reading
• Teaches rules, uniforms, safety gear and sportsmanship
• Thick board pages for babies and toddlers

Cons

• 12 pages; the shortest book here
• Reading age Baby to 2 years; too young for older kids
• Animal characters, not real players

5

Inspirational Hockey Stories

Mike Johnson·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

114 pages of 12 true hockey tales of grit and resilience, for readers 8 to 11.

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Pros

• 12 true tales of grit from hockey history
• 114 pages; the longest book here
• Ages 8 to 11; suits independent readers

Cons

• Not a picture book; text-heavy for young kids
• Some stories cover tragedy; check before reading aloud
• Less fit for the picture-books shelf than the others

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More picks to compare

• 400+ Hockey Facts for Kids400+ hockey facts for ages 7 to 10; independently published.Check on Amazon
• It's Hockey Time, Franklin!A Peanuts 24-page story for ages 3 to 7.Check on Amazon
• The Golden StickA hockey chapter book for ages 8 to 11, published 2025.Check on Amazon
• Score! My First Hockey GameA 24-page first-game story for ages 3 and up.Check on Amazon
• I Can Read Hockey StoriesA Level 2 reader, 32 pages, for ages 4 to 8.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. Four of the five picks list a reading age: Goodnight Hockey at 4 to 7, My First Book of Hockey at 3 to 7, Z is for Zamboni at 1 to 4 and Inspirational Hockey Stories at 8 to 11. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best children’s books about hockey

Reading age and level

Match the book to the reader, not the shelf. Let’s Play Hockey! suits babies to age 2, Z is for Zamboni suits ages 1 to 4, My First Book of Hockey and Goodnight Hockey suit ages 3 to 7 and 4 to 7, and Inspirational Hockey Stories suits independent readers 8 to 11. Readers who outgrow these can move up to the middle-grade lists, and the oldest fans toward the young-adult lists.

Format: board book, picture book or true tales

Let’s Play Hockey! is a 12-page board book with 6 lift-a-flaps for little hands, while Goodnight Hockey and Z is for Zamboni are classic picture books. My First Book of Hockey is a 48-page illustrated guide with a glossary, and Inspirational Hockey Stories is a 114-page text collection for readers who have moved past picture books.

Series or standalone

Goodnight Hockey belongs to the Sports Illustrated Kids Bedtime Books series and My First Book of Hockey to the Sports Illustrated Kids My First Book line, so fans can collect more. Z is for Zamboni, Let’s Play Hockey! and Inspirational Hockey Stories are standalones. If you are buying for a series collector, check which book of the series you are getting.

Before you buy

• Check the reading age on the listing against the reader: these picks span Baby to 11 years.
• Check the edition: My First Book of Hockey has a revised 2024 edition, and Z is for Zamboni is an abridged edition.
• Check the format: board book, picture book and 114-page collection are very different gifts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age are these hockey books for?

The picks span Baby to 11 years. Let’s Play Hockey! suits babies to age 2, Z is for Zamboni ages 1 to 4, My First Book of Hockey ages 3 to 7, Goodnight Hockey ages 4 to 7, and Inspirational Hockey Stories ages 8 to 11.

Which book is best for a toddler?

Let’s Play Hockey!, a 12-page lift-a-flap board book with 6 sturdy flaps, thick pages and simple hockey basics for babies and toddlers.

Are any of these books part of a series?

Goodnight Hockey is a Sports Illustrated Kids Bedtime Book and My First Book of Hockey is a Sports Illustrated Kids My First Book. The other three are standalones.

Still deciding? Our top pickGoodnight Hockey by Dahl

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Related lists

See every picture books list and all kids and teens books lists.

More lists: middle-grade books, young-adult books and children’s books about pirates.