A new children’s book is bringing the classic game of shuffleboard to life through the eyes of three adventurous siblings. Secrets of the Shuffleboard Courts is the first-ever published book about shuffleboard written specifically for kids.
This delightful mystery story not only entertains but also teaches the rules, strategies and culture of the sport in a way that’s fun and accessible for young readers.
Set in Lakeside, the book follows “The Three Musketeers” — Con, Ron and Jon — as they uncover the secrets behind mysterious black marks appearing on the shuffleboard courts.
Along the way, they explore essential shuffleboard skills like drift, the hammer, hiding, bumping and scoring — all while solving a growing mystery and learning from the experienced “Old-Timers” at the courts.
The book was written by siblings Connie West Roop, Ron West and Jon West, who grew up playing shuffleboard at Lakeside. Their shared childhood experiences form the heart of this charming story.
Connie is a National Shuffleboard Champion, President of the Lakeside Shuffleboard Club and a retired educator. Ron, an alumnus of The Second City, is known for his appearances on “Third Rock from the Sun,” “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Seinfeld.” Jon, who placed fourth in the Norma Faris Pee Wee Singles Shuffleboard Tournament in 1976, lives in Utah and enjoys coaching youth lacrosse.
“I had the idea to write a children’s book about shuffleboard to attract younger people to the sport and to explain the basic skills in a way that a child could understand,” said Connie. “It was a lot of fun collaborating with my brothers, and Melissa’s illustrations really bring the story to life.”
Illustrated by Melissa Dietz-Schall, a fellow Lakeside shuffleboard player and professional illustrator, the book is visually rich with nostalgic and lively depictions of summer court life. Dietz-Schall is the owner of Elephant & Llama Designs and resides in Buffalo, New York, with her family.
Secrets of the Shuffleboard Courts is ideal for children in grades 2-5, especially those interested in sports, mysteries and sibling adventures.
It includes interactive elements like shuffleboard-themed math problems, vocabulary games and even a decode-the-message activity, making it a perfect blend of learning and fun.
This summer, join the Connie, Jon and Dietz-Schall for a meet & greet and book signing from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Tuesday, July 1 and Thursday, July 31 at the Shuffleboard Courts. Enjoy donuts, punch and a shuffleboard game.
