Jenna Prestidge, a distinguished local author and the pioneering captain of the Owen Sound Ice Hawks girls’ hockey team, has recently launched the initial three volumes of her innovative children’s book series, “Rosie The Hockey Player”. The series meticulously narrates the escapades and exploits of a young female hockey athlete, drawing inspiration from Prestidge’s own athletic endeavors.
One of the volumes, “The Harvest Cup”, presents a fictitious tale about a competition in which Rosie and her team, the Ice Hawks, partake. The narrative encapsulates the hockey season during harvest time in the region, encapsulating the essence of the changing leaves and apple picking. Another volume in the series, “The Candy Cane Classic”, delineates Rosie’s family holiday hockey tradition, echoing Prestidge’s familial custom of renting the ice every Boxing Day to partake in Canada’s national winter sport.
Prestidge’s decision to pen these volumes was sparked by the Hockey Day in Canada festivities in Owen Sound, which presented a girls’ hockey event with teams from different leagues. The experience of witnessing young girls fervently rooting for their preferred players instilled in Prestidge the impetus to craft stories that would deeply resonate with them.
While in search of hockey literature for her daughter, she noted the noticeable dearth of female representation in the genre. It was this observation that kindled her drive to furnish young girls with narratives where they could identify themselves as athletes. Drawing from her own experiences as a girls’ hockey player in Owen Sound in the 1990s, Prestidge vividly recollects the trials and triumphs that defined her journey. She ascended to become the inaugural captain of the Owen Sound Ice Hawks and played a pivotal role in surmounting the stereotypes associated with girls’ hockey during that time.
In the wake of finalizing the tales, Prestidge sought out an illustrator, Emma Gauhl, to breathe life into her words. The collaboration bestowed a visual narrative that synergizes with the essence of the volumes. Furthermore, Prestidge has partnered with the Grindstone Award Foundation to channel a portion of the proceeds from “Rosie the Hockey Player” sales towards financing opportunities for young female hockey players, especially those facing financial constraints in pursuing their passion for the sport.
Amidst the volumes already leaving a profound impact within a mere week of their release, Prestidge is elated at the reception from readers across Canada, the U.S., Europe, and Australia. She is humbled by the support extended by the community, epitomized by the sale of over 500 copies and a multitude of positive interactions with local residents.
For further information on the “Rosie the Hockey Player” series, interested parties can peruse www.rosiethehockeyplayer.com. Copies of the volumes are available for acquisition on Amazon, as well as at local establishments such as Hometown Sports and Tree House Clothing Store commencing next week. The remarkable success of the volumes underscores the resonance of the narratives and the burgeoning demand for literature that extols female athletes in the realm of children’s books.
In conclusion, Jenna Prestidge’s commitment to empowering young female athletes through “Rosie The Hockey Player” is truly remarkable. Her distinctive approach of interweaving personal experiences with fictional narratives has reverberated with readers globally, underscoring the significance of representation and diversity in children’s literature. As the volumes continue to gain traction, they serve as a testament to the influence of storytelling in shaping young minds and nurturing an affinity for both sports and literature.