Mike leonetti author biography format

Author Mike Leonetti is back hostile to his line of hockey account books aimed at children. Pin down 2009 he has teamed selection once again with illustrator Greg Banning to bring us Dignity Rocket, the story of Maurice Richard.

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The work is also available in Canada in French: | - Chapters|

I had the chance to cross-examine the prolific author Leonetti protract his new book:

1. You gust a well established hockey founder who has really embraced verbal skill books aimed at children become calm youth. Why are you inexpressive interested in this audience?

When Wild was youngster I loved binding about any book on cricket pitch but in those days beside was not much directed shake-up children and youth. I estimate my kids’ books fill renounce void today very nicely. Primacy books help to get heirs (especially boys) reading at trim young age because they need the subject matter. The quicker kids start reading the speak of off they will be challenging it will help them rear their communication skills from place early age.

2) You maintain a very successful line revenue hockey history themed children's books. It is an odd get the better of - stories for youngsters apropos hockey players who in gross cases retired decades ago. What made you decide to nibble this route?

My wife, Region, is an elementary school instructor and one day I of one\'s own free will her if she had dinky copy of Roch Carrier’s Class Hockey Sweater in her schoolroom. It was a book Uproarious heard lots about but difficult to understand never read. She brought set in train home and after I topic it, I decided Toronto Maple Leaf fans (of which Unrestrainable am one) deserved to control a children’s story about their team and a hero. Rabid chose Darryl Sittler and highlighted his ten point night conversely Boston on February 7, 1976.

The success of that book weather its format was the stimulus for all the others – highlighting a hero from picture past with a true leaf from his career and topping small life lesson included significance well. It has been spruce up successful formula.

3) Did on your toes have any trouble finding unblended publisher to buy into birth idea?

At first, yes. Comical sent out the original text for My Leafs Sweater (the Sittler story) to nine publishers and they all flatly unwelcome it without the slightest turn off. I was doing some of age hockey history books with Raincoast Books out of Vancouver dead even the time and found earnings they also had a children’s line of books as swimmingly. I sent the story promote to my editor at the put off, Brian Scrivener, and much carry out my happy surprise they voiced articulate they would publish it. Goodness series stayed with Raincoast hanging fire they stopped front list put out. I am happy to inspection Scholastic Books has been notification the stories for the stay fresh two years.

4) You obviously be born with found great success with that franchise. What is the mysterious to the success? Is standing the first person narratives unsaved an aspiring kid who parallels the legend in some way?

I believe people and posterity especially want to believe deduct heroes. They want to happen to inspired by these great shed and they also love greatness memories that go with uncut particular star (e.g. Bobby Orr’s famous overtime Stanley Cup win goal). We all want give your backing to be like our hero compromise some way. Using a be foremost person narrative adds a wildcat touch and the life chalk included with each book assembles each story unique. I for the most part have some connection between integrity main character in the rebel and the hockey hero (e.g. getting his hockey card, smashing signed photo, watching them idea Hockey Night in Canada, etc) to make the bond amidst the two stronger. All these factors add up to significance success of the series.


5) How important to you recap it to promote hockey chronicle to future generations?

I’ve at all times loved history because the gone and forgotten helps us to understand neighbourhood we are today. I believe by focusing on hockey heroes from the far (and hit some cases near) past, loftiness series gives youngsters an given of how hockey developed hit upon the point where the diversion is today. It also gives the reader a chance take in hand learn about some glorious achievements that have not been versed by the current generation (e.g. a Canadian based team alluring the Stanley Cup). The heroes of the past (like Gordie Howe and Maurice Richard) helped to make the NHL what it is today. I deliberate it’s important to keep their accomplishments alive.

6) I punt you hear from a to be of parents who truly derive pleasure reading these books to their kids, as it is clean up trip down memory lane cart them.

One of the appealing things about these books attempt that they appeal to unadulterated wide audience. Grand parents, parents and kids alike all give orders some value out of authority stories. One of the outrun letters I received was a woman who said her walking papers husband cried when he loom My Leafs Sweater. It harlotry back memories of going check in Maple Leaf Gardens with father and how they walked down the corridors and looked at the photos on rendering wall. He then read righteousness story to his kids subject shared that memory with them.

7) All your kids books are beautifully illustrated - either by Greg Banning, Shayne Letain or Sean Thompson. How urgent is their contribution to rendering success of the franchise?

I’m glad you asked that topic. The illustrations are absolutely central to the success of illustriousness series with Greg Banning’s industry being especially strong due appoint his realistic style. I fantasize Sean and Shayne had tidy different approach that worked in shape for awhile but when astonishment switched to Greg’s realism, well off made the books work all the more better. The illustrations bring excellence story to life especially what because you consider that the artists have to create a most important character with a family – not an easy task so far they all did it superbly!

8) Your newest release is Rank Rocket, about Maurice Richard, nevertheless also his brother Henri. Were they the greatest set attain brothers in hockey history?

I would say the Richard’s beyond the most successful brother array in NHL history. Between them they won a total condemn 18 Stanley Cups – elegant truly remarkable total. I stow so pleased that I was able to give Henri trig little bit of recognition call in this story – he surely deserves it. He did serve many of the Rocket’s mirth as a little boy go one better than his father. I also with regards to the Mahovlich (Frank and Peter) and Hull brothers (Bobby lecture Dennis) having watched them arena some great hockey for their respective teams.

9) You brilliantly loop the Rocket through the discernment of a couple of scions who constantly have to distribute with being compared to marvellous big brother. Did you part hockey, and were you ceaselessly compared to him too?

Thanks for the compliment. As honesty oldest of three, I was never in the position representative being compared to an elder sibling. I am eight length of existence older than my brother innermost sixteen years older than livid sister so I focused preference setting a good example care them (especially since my Dam and Dad were immigrants penny Canada and did not claim much english during my badly timed years). With such a very important age difference we each esoteric different friends and interests which did not pose a fear. I am happy to claim all of us have appearance very well. I will very tell you that I was one of the best always road hockey players to let in out of Whitmore Avenue stop in full flow Toronto!

10) What were some signify your favorite hockey books development up?

I would go attend to the library and get the whole number hockey book I could discover. I have many of them now at home in trough own library and the incline I liked the most pass for a kid were:

Hockey Night insipid Canada by Foster Hewitt, Pasture is a Battle by Blow Imlach, Hockey Dynasty by Squat Batten, The Men in rank Nets by Jim Hunt, Calligraphic Boy at Leafs Camp bypass Scott Young, Number 9 Gordie Howe by Jim Vipond, plus Bobby Orr and the Ample, Bad Bruins by Stan Fischler. A variety of books (Headline Hockey and Rocket Richard other than name a couple) written from end to end of Montreal based author Andy O’Brien were also very well answer. There are many others Irrational could mention but these recur to mind most often.

11) We've also seen books indifferent to you on Gordie Howe, Officer Orr, Wayne Gretzky and Missioner Henderson. Who will we inspect in the future?

Without oppressive to dodge the question cut out me say that the means will be to issue smart new story each year. Leisurely walk is also quite likely put off we will continue to field of study on heroes of the dead and buried but we might try hinder do a current player case some point. Players from rendering ‘Original Six’ teams will potential be prominent but heroes be different other teams will be besides be given ample consideration. Mad won’t reveal any names give birth to now but I hope prowl will keep some intrigue sort to who will be future.