cover image NUMBER FOUR, BOBBY ORR!

NUMBER FOUR, BOBBY ORR!

Mike Leonetti, , illus. by Shayne Letain. . Raincoast, $15.95 (32pp) ISBN 978-1-55192-551-6

Hero worship is the order of the day in Leonetti's (My Leafs Sweater ) sluggish story about Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr, set during the 1969–70 season. Hospitalized after breaking his leg during a hockey game, the young narrator writes a fan letter to Orr, also asking for tips on playing defense. Orr sends a generic reply offering no advice, but Joey's father brings him great news. He had had a flat tire leaving a Bruins game, and—improbably—Orr came along, helped him replace the flat and promised to visit Joey in the hospital. Later the boy watches Orr make the goal that clinches the Stanley Cup for the Bruins; exemplifying the narrative's frequently stilted style, he says: "It was such a happy time for Bruins fans. My Dad and I enjoyed the celebration so much we decided to walk home. We smiled all the way!" A curious balance of animated and wooden images marks newcomer Letain's quirkily proportioned, brassily colored art. There's little here to bring the sport, the athlete or the fan to life; young readers unfamiliar with Orr are unlikely to share the character's emotional connection to him, and his fans are not likely to learn anything new here. Ages 6-up. (Nov.)