Overview
An inspiring picture book about a young Indigenous girl who just wants to play hockey--co-written by a two-time world champion hockey player and former member of the Toronto Sceptres and Ottawa Charge. What if I'm older than everyone else? What if I don't have any hockey gear? I don't even know how to skate! All of these worries run through eight-year-old Shirley's mind when she joins a local hockey program for Indigenous girls. She loves watching hockey on TV with her brother and dad, but she's not sure if she has what it takes to play. With the help of those around her, determination, and a whole lot of heart, Shirley finds her footing and makes new friends. Every time she falls, she gets back up again, proving that anyone can have fun on the ice if they just try. Co-written by two-time hockey world champion Victoria Bach and Indigenous Girls Hockey Program co-founder Ryan Francis, and featuring artwork by illustrator Brandon Mitchell, Skate On, Shirley! is a heartwarming story about the power of community. A portion of all royalties will be donated to the Genevieve Francis Memorial Fund to support sports opportunities for Indigenous girls in Atlantic Canada.
Full Product Details
Author: Victoria Bach ,
Ryan Francis ,
Brandon Mitchell
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing Ltd
Imprint: Nimbus Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 9781774715352
ISBN 10: 177471535
Pages: 32
Publication Date: 28 April 2026
Recommended Age: From 4 to 8 years
Audience:
Children/juvenile
,
Children / Juvenile
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
Availability: Not yet available
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.
Author Information
Victoria Bach (Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte) is a two-time world champion, a U18 world champion, and a former professional hockey player in the Professional Women's Hockey League for the Toronto Sceptres and Ottawa Charge. She was part of the 2022 centralization roster with Team Canada, serving as an alternate athlete for the Beijing Olympics. At Boston University, she set the all-time points and goals record and was a 2018 Patty Kazmaier Award finalist. Victoria completed her teaching certificate from Brock University and holds a Master of Education from Queen's University. She is passionate about teaching, coaching, and community. Ryan Francis is from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, and is a member of Wasoqop'aq (Acadia) First Nation. Ryan co-founded the Indigenous Girls Hockey Program and for this work, was named a finalist for the 2022 Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award presented by the National Hockey League. Through these experiences, the inspiration behind Ryan's work, the Genevieve Francis Memorial Fund, was created. Ryan now lives in Dartmouth with his wife Carly and daughters Jasmine and Audrey. Mi'gmaq visual artist and writer Brandon Mitchell is the founder of Birch Bark Comics and creator of the Sacred Circles comic series. He has also written five books with the Healthy Aboriginal Network and wrote and illustrated Jean-Paul's Daring Adventure: Stories from Old Mobile for the University of Alabama. He recently contributed the story ""Migwite'tmeg: We Remember It"" in the national bestselling graphic novel anthology series This Place: 150 Years Retold by Highwater Press.
