LUGE MIGHT not be the first sport that comes to mind for an athletic-themed picture book, but with its spunky redheaded protagonist, Lucy Tries Luge by Calgary sports broadcaster Lisa Bowes and illustrator James Hearne has proved to be a surprise hit for Orca Book Publishers. The first rhyming adventure in the Lucy Tries Sports series – geared to ages three to seven and based on Canada’s High Five standard for physical literacy – was published by Orca in October 2015, and by early January had almost sold through its initial 4,000-copy print run. “It has done very well in [stores] and I think we’re seeing good interest in it,” says Orca publisher Andrew Wooldridge.
The second title in the series, Lucy Tries Short Track, was published in French and English in January, and Lucy Tries Soccer is scheduled for release in May.