Maverick has played in plenty of hockey games before, but today is different—it’s the championship game! As he laces up his skates, excitement bubbles up… along with a few nerves. What if he misses a shot? What if he lets his team down?
Join Maverick as he faces one of his biggest challenges yet and discovers that being brave doesn’t mean you’re never scared—it means showing up, giving it your all, and believing in yourself.
Will Maverick rise to the occasion and help his team take home the trophy?
Would you like a version that emphasizes teamwork, includes parents or
Maverick has played in plenty of hockey games before, but today is different—it’s the championship game! As he laces up his skates, excitement bubbles up… along with a few nerves. What if he misses a shot? What if he lets his team down?
Join Maverick as he faces one of his biggest challenges yet and discovers that being brave doesn’t mean you’re never scared—it means showing up, giving it your all, and believing in yourself.
Will Maverick rise to the occasion and help his team take home the trophy?
Would you like a version that emphasizes teamwork, includes parents or
Maverick and his team, the Ice Warriors, are heading to the big championship game, where the winning team receives a trophy, a prize he and his teammates hope to win. Excitement quickly turned to worry as he mentally asked himself, what if I mess up? Butterflies in the stomach can occur for many reasons: singing on stage for the first time, taking a test, on the first day of school, or starting a new job. It can also occur before a game, as is the case with Maverick. These self-doubts can affect your performance, and mistakes can happen. Maverick didn't play a perfect game, and that's okay; it's not whether you win or lose but how you play the game.
The coach's pre-game speech was truly inspiring: "Play hard, have fun, and remember, no matter what, we're a team." His handling of Maverick's reaction to the missed shot was a shining example of positive reinforcement. Instead of berating Maverick, the coach reminded him that everyone misses sometimes; the key is to keep trying your best. The Ice Warriors rallying behind Maverick is another positive reaction that real-life children should emulate.
Maverick and the Big Game (The Adventures of Maverick the Hockey Player) is a lovely inspirational story that helps kids understand that having a nervous belly before an important event is okay. The book also points out that we all make mistakes. While feeling you let someone down can worsen your physical or mental ailments, you should not throw in the towel. Try, try again. Remember to always model the coach and the Ice Warriors' behavior: cheer each other on and offer words of encouragement!
Maverick made mistakes in the game, and the co-authors made editing errors in Maverick and the Big Game (The Adventures of Maverick the Hockey Player). However, these errors do not detract from the book's positive overall message. Whether you're a hockey fan or not, I highly recommend sharing Maverick's story with your kids. The book's simple illustrations make it appealing to younger kids, while the easy-to-read text is perfect for early readers, making it a great choice for children aged three to nine.