World-changing events unfold before your eyes in these amazing tales of inventions and discovery. Inventors, scientists, and businesspeople shape our world through their will and determination. See their captivating stories come to life with vivid illustrations and easy-to-read text. An additional information section provides key facts and further understanding.
When Frank Zamboni, along with his brother and cousin, opened their own skating rink in 1940 in Paramount, California, it could take an hour and a half for a crew to resurface the ice. They had to level the surface by shaving down the pits and grooves with a tractor, remove the shavings, wash the ice and find a way to give the rink its shining finish. Skaters became exasperated with the wait, so Frank was determined to do something about it. Could he turn a ninety-minute job for five men into a ten-minute task for only one? Working in the shed behind his ice rink, Frank drew designs and built models of machines he hoped would do the job. For nine years, he worked on his invention, each model an improvement on the one before. Finally, in 1949, Frank tested the Model A, which "cleaned the ice in one sweep around the rink." The rest is history.
Enjoy a (slow) spin around the old rink in the only history of the world-famous Zamboni ice resurfacer…now available in an updated edition to celebrate the 70th birthday of these iconic machines! Until 1949, resurfacing an ice rink required an ungainly tractor-pulled shaver followed by three or four workers scooping away the shavings and then spraying and squeegeeing water. The process—including the refreezing—took more than an hour, as skaters or hockey players waited patiently. That all changed when a tireless inventor by the name of Frank J. Zamboni—who also happened to own a skating rink in Southern California—put his mind to creating a quality sheet of ice in a shorter time. The story of the machines the Zamboni Company has produced—now as beloved among sports enthusiasts as ice skates and hockey pucks—is fully told in this fun-filled history of machine-age ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that forever changed the nature of ice sports. Inside this official illustrated story, created with the cooperation of the Zamboni Company, you'll be greeted by a wealth of visual material from their archives. Explore: The early development of Zamboni ice-resurfacing machines How they work and have evolved over the years The story behind figure-skating legend Sonja Henie's personal Zamboni ice resurfacers Anecdotes from drivers Stories behind paint schemes Colorful tales about Zamboni ice resurfacer drivers And much more Witness the design and workings of the latest models, such as the world's first OEM lithium-ion-powered ice resurfacer, and read fun new Zamboni tales and milestones, like the 12,000th machine delivered and the 2018 formation of Zamboni Europe in Sweden. Entertaining sidebars explore the appeal of Zamboni machines, take you inside Zamboni facilities, examine the company’s other less-well-known machines, and highlight Zamboni machines' television and film "roles." The only book on the subject not geared for young kids, Zamboni: The Coolest Machines on Ice offers sports enthusiasts a fun-filled and informative look at one of the most beloved machines on four wheels!
In the mold of our very popular series of state alphabet books, we offer "Z is for Zamboni" to hockey fans young and old across North America. Matt Napier's "breakaway" rhymes and "hard-checking" expository text team up with the "top-shelf" illustrations of Melanie Rose to elucidate this increasingly popular game for every beginning hockey aficionado. Highlighting rules, players, coaches, teams, and the history of the game, it is both fun and educational.
Hockey meets the #MeToo movement in this powerful debut novel. Michigan Manning lives for hockey, and this is her year to shine. That is, until she gets some crushing news: budget cuts will keep the girls’ hockey team off the ice this year. If she wants colleges to notice her, Michigan has to find a way to play. Luckily, there’s still one team left in town … The boys’ team isn't exactly welcoming, but Michigan’s prepared to prove herself. She plays some of the best hockey of her life, in fact, all while putting up with changing in the broom closet, constant trash talk and “harmless” pranks that always seem to target her. But once hazing crosses the line into assault, Michigan must weigh the consequences of speaking up — even if it means putting her future on the line.
Now in paperback. Meet Frank Zamboni, whose determination and persistence led to his invention of the now-famous Zamboni ice-resurfacing machine. When Frank Zamboni, along with his brother and cousin, opened their own skating rink in 1940 in Paramount, California, it could take an hour and a half for a crew to resurface the ice. They had to level the surface by shaving down the pits and grooves with a tractor, remove the shavings, wash the ice and find a way to give the rink its shining finish. Skaters became exasperated with the wait, so Frank was determined to do something about it. Could he turn a ninety-minute job for five men into a ten-minute task for only one? Working in the shed behind his ice rink, Frank drew designs and built models of machines he hoped would do the job. For nine years, he worked on his invention, each model an improvement on the one before. Finally, in 1949, Frank tested the Model A, which "cleaned the ice in one sweep around the rink." The rest is history.
Beautifully designed and carefully curated, a fascinating collection of the things that shaped the way we live and play in America What artifact best captures the spirit of American sports? The bat Babe Ruth used to hit his allegedly called shot, or the ball on which Pete Rose wrote, "I'm sorry I bet on baseball"? Could it be Lance Armstrong's red-white-and-blue bike, now tarnished by doping and hubris? Or perhaps its ancestor, the nineteenth-century safety bicycle that opened an avenue of previously unknown freedom to women? The jerseys of rivals Larry Bird and Magic Johnson? Or the handball that Abraham Lincoln threw against a wall as he waited for news of his presidential nomination? From nearly forgotten heroes like Tad Lucas (rodeo) and Tommy Kono (weightlifting) to celebrities like Amelia Earhart, Muhammad Ali, and Michael Phelps, Cait Murphy tells the stories of the people, events, and things that have forged the epic of American sports, in both its splendor and its squalor. Stories of heroism and triumph rub up against tales of discrimination and cheating. These objects tell much more than just stories about great games-they tell the story of the nation. Eye-opening and exuberant, A History of American Sports in 100 Objects shows how the games Americans play are woven into the gloriously infuriating fabric of America itself.
A record-setting Finnish best-seller, now available for the first time in English! Teemu Selanne is unquestionably hockey royalty, having won countless accolades—including a Stanley Cup championship and four Olympic medals—during his storied career. This deep dive into the life of a unique superstar, top athlete, and family man shows that such success and longevity have not come without complex hurdles. How did a youngster from Helsinki mature into a world-class player, one of the best of all time? What kind of personal obstacles has Selanne encountered, and how did he manage the immense pressure of representing his country and striving for his sport's top prizes? Featuring never-before-told stories from Selanne's NHL years with the with the Winnipeg Jets, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, and Colorado Avalanche, as well as rare color photos from his personal collection, this authorized biography is an essential read for all hockey fans.
