**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

About the Book

Book: It’s Hockey Season

Author: Jayne J. Jones Beehler

Genre: JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation/Hockey

Release date: August 13, 2021

It’s Hockey Season tells the tale of two brothers, Blaine and Cullen, who love ice
hockey and each other. Cullen is the all-star team captain and his brother Blaine,
who has Down syndrome, is the team manager. Blaine is clearly the unsung hero
of the team; his leadership and unselfish actions speak louder than words. Young
readers are able to learn respect and a better understanding for the challenges
individuals with special needs face on a daily basis.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Jayne J. Jones Beehler is a lifelong hockey fan who is also an advocate for children
with disabilities. She serves as a government and legislative affairs project
management consultant dealing with such issues as opioid addiction, juvenile
justice, foster care, higher education, and education reforms.

Jayne is a former history professor for Concordia University, where she was named
Political Science Professor of the Year in 2017. She holds a B.A. degree in Political
Science and a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law.

She serves as national legal advisor for the American Special Hockey Association
and is the founder of Margaret’s Missions, a chaperone travel program for people
with special needs.

Jayne resides with her husband and daughter in Wisconsin and Florida.

More from Jayne

“This book has great lessons for kids everywhere! I’m so happy my good friend Ann and the

American Special Hockey Association can be an inspiration for so many people!”

- Alex Ovechkin, Captain, Washington Capitals

“I’m a big fan of books that teach kids about hockey and more importantly about the value of

accepting those who may be different and working together as a team.

It’s important to lead by example and treat everyone with the same respect.”

- Claude Giroux, Captain, Philadelphia Flyers

My Thoughts

As the mother to a child with special needs, I have seen first hand that children (and adults) can be mean to those that are different, and know the importance of teaching kids at a young age to accept those who are differently abled. Teaching through fictional stories is such a fantastic way to do just that, and this story does so beautifully with a story of two brothers, Blaine and Cullen, the first of whom has Down syndrome.

I found this to be a cute story for younger kids, and a great way to open the conversation about treating others with respect regardless of their differences. By using something like hockey and sports that kids might already enjoy, it draws them into the story in a way that is entertaining to them leading the way to a beautiful and very much needed message. We certainly need more stories just like this one!