Boot & Shoe

PreS--Gr 2--Puppy brothers Boot and Shoe live a quite life that suits them--Shoe on the front porch and Boot on the back porch. They eat and sleep together and pee together on the same little tree. One day a pesky squirrel happens by and begins to chatter, throw stuff, and just gets in their face. A wild chase ensues and, lo and behold, Boot ends up on the front porch and Shoe is on the back porch, each awaiting their sibling to appear. They spend a separate, sleepless night with no appetite for a lonely dinner. Finally at dawn, they both must pee and, happily, they meet at their favorite tree. After a gleeful reunion, they fall fast asleep--together. Frazee's warm and funny story (Beach Lane Bks., 2012) about sibling friendship is enhanced by her signature pencil-and-gouache illustrations and hand-lettered text. Johnny Heller's perfectly paced narration adds emphasis at just the right times, but the telling would have been even better with the addition of sound effects for the squirrel's chatter, wild chase, etc. Still, this is a fun choice for elementary schools.--Jane Newschwander, Fluvanna County Public Schools, VA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

With restrained humor and an eye for homey detail, Frazee (The Boss Baby) introduces near-identical terriers who lead a life that is "exactly perfect for both of them." They share a dish, a favorite tree, and a blue cushion, but part ways to sit in opposite lookouts: "Boot spends his days on the back porch, because he's a back porch kind of dog. And Shoe spends his days on the front porch, because he's a front porch kind of dog." When a mischievous squirrel pesters them into a mad chase (by colloquially getting "all up in business"), the dogs accidentally switch positions. Frazee pictures them in silhouette on either end of a green cottage, each loyally standing guard and awaiting the other's return; even when they circle their house, they walk counterclockwise and fail to meet: "It was a long, sleepless night." Like Elisha Cooper's recent Homer, this is an everyday dog story elevated to a thing of beauty by understated artwork and prose. Frazee's hand-lettered type and the subtle differences between the well-groomed dogs add to the homespun, local vibe. Ages 4-8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Oct.)

Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

* "There is genius in this tale's simplicity and Frazee's understated text, repetitive language, sentence structure, and perfect comic timing play the heartwarming humor to the hilt. The pencil-and-gouache artwork, set against creamy French vanilla backdrops, blends precise lines with fluid motion, and the muted colors subtly mirror the narrative's restraint and changing moods. The snow-white pooches, with their black button noses and eyes hidden by furry fringe, are true charmers, and their emotions are masterfully conveyed through eloquent body language. A dog-lover's delight and tender ode to friendship."

—School Library Journal, August 2012, *STAR