Description

---

Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award nominee, 2006

Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice, 2007

Snow Willow Award nominee 2006

Forever - we've been doing it absolutely forever

Bump has been longing to play in the annual Christmas Classic - his family's annual hockey game - for what feels like forever. A tradition begun many years ago by Bump's Grampa and the uncles, the Christmas Classic is the family's annual hockey game played by everyone in the family. Everyone but Bump that is. Even his sister Poodle takes part. When Gramma measures him against the kitchen doorframe, Bump doesn't quite meet the height requirements.

Then comes that magical year, when Grampa announces, "Tomorrow, the Christmas Classic welcomes a new player." Bump knows his time has come. Bump prays that he won't make a fool of himself, that he will play as well as he always has in his dreams. Maybe he will even be named the Most Valuable Player and have his name engraved on the Christmas Classic trophy.

When the game is finally played, Grampa and Bump combine for the final goal in a moment that Bump will remember forever.

But that's not the end of Bump's story. What follows elevates Bump's story to the realm of myth and legend, the cementing of a tradition that will warm the hearts of countless readers and live on forever.

About the Author

---

Roy MacGregor was born in the small village of Whitney, Ontario, and was raised in the town of Huntsville, both on the boundaries of Ontario's Algonquin Park. Prior to joining The Globe and Mail in 2002, MacGregor worked for the National Post (1998-2002) and the Ottawa Citizen (1986-1998). In more than 30 years of journalism, MacGregor has won most of the writing awards available in that profession including the National Newspaper Award (1995). Brian Deines is an artist and illustrator acclaimed for the warmth of his palette and his ability to breathe life into his images. He graduated from the Alberta College of Art. His illustrations bring to life the stories of several popular children's books including Sky Sisters and Bear on the Train published by Kids Can Press. Dragon Fly Kites (2002), written by Tomson Highway, was shortlisted for the Governor General's Award and nominated for the Schwartz Children's Literature Award.