Boots

Elizabeth PulsforD author Krista Brennan illustrator

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Wombat Books

Published:6th Nov '24

Should be back in stock very soon

Boots cover

Our lives are measured by the places we hold dear, the people we love and the paths we have trodden. So, who better to tell our stories than the shoes we wear? Boots, exactly as the title suggests, describes a beloved pair of working boots. Through their endearing perspective, this picture book narrates the life of a cattle farmer and his love of the Australian bush.

Written in simple, but lyrical prose, Boots breathes life into a generation of hardworking men and women, their humble lifestyles, and an unforgiving landscape that is intrinsic to the Australian identity. With themes of love, loss, old age, hardship and resilience, and references to drought, flood, bushfire and war, Boots provides a candid glimpse into the trials and tribulations of one mans life.

While this story paints a gentle portrait of an 'everyday hero', Boots celebrates a much broader facet of the Australian national spirit, and most importantly, it reminds readers of the universal importance of making each moment of our own finite lives count, even in the face of an unpredictable future.

“Moving and relatable, the tale Pulsford and Brennan have created is a rich one that celebrates life and one unique part of the Australian identity”.
- Books+Publishing
Set in the Australian outback, the reader is shown the many facets of living on a property through the eyes of the boots. Horse riding and rounding up cattle, helping give water to parched animals, and dancing are some of the activities.
- Blue Wolf Reviews
“This story is timeless – it could be about Grandpa’s boots or it could be about a pair purchased by a young farmhand today underlining the regular routines of rural life regardless of extraneous events, ruled by the seasons.  It is an entertaining and engaging way to focus the reader’s thinking on the differences between city and country life, as it celebrates that sense of community and connectedness that is unique to small towns and surrounds.   Maybe this will be among the award winners in the future, but for me, and the memories it evoked, it is already a winner.” 
-The Bottomshelf Teacher Librarian Blog 
“The expectations, joys, and sorrows of life are gradually revealed through the growth of the farmer’s family, in this moving and deeply meaningful reflection on the cycle of life. Beautifully presented, this publication is a dream. Every page is divine, with gorgeous colour spreads depicting the lives and background of the characters including the animals and the landscape.” 
-Kids’ Book Review 
“This story, written with love, was created for early primary readers. It celebrates one aspect of the Australian identity, though it could be translated to all walks of life. It’s an ideal precedent for discussing the importance of our family stories, how they inform how we live now and why we should preserve these memories. A delightful book.”
-Story Links 
“It’s the illustrations, rather than the minimal text, which mainly tell the story, simple and dignified as it is. Boots would be an interesting ‘read-aloud’ for lower primary grade students and would provide lots of discussion topics about the different country experiences of this young outback farmer, showing the harsh reality of outback life”
-Magpies Magazine 

ISBN: 9781761111037

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

32 pages