River and the Missing Yellow Wellie Mystery
Emily Dreeling | Rising River Press 51p, e-book, $9.99, ISBN 979-8-985-31055-9
In Dreeling’s playful picture book for young children, rubber rain boots come surprisingly to life to solve the mystery of their missing friend. Instead of sitting idly on the shelf, the wellies belonging to a little girl named River have lively conversations, go on adventures, and even enjoy tea and biscuits. They’re a close-knit group, so when one pair of shoes named Teddy gets lost, the excitable remaining trio jumps to the worstcase scenario: Teddy has likely been kidnapped by River’s ornery dog, Murphy. Worried they will never see their friend again, the nervous boots seek the help of local sleuth Detective Walter. On their journey they learn about themselves and their own abilities.
While it is common for inanimate objects to have secret lives in children’s books, the idea that shoes have problems, friendships, and fears feels fresh and intriguing. The wellies must keep their “realness” secret from humans, in this case by sprinkling the people in their house with magic dust each night, but on the day Teddy goes missing, they forget to take this vital step, allowing River to help solve their mystery. Surprisingly, River is rather nonplussed by the concept of living, breathing footwear—she simply states that her mom is used to her having imaginary friends. In this way, the story doesn’t waste time with familiar drama and invites readers to similarly suspend their disbelief.
Jovanovic’s colorful illustrations show the expressive wellies on each step of their investigation, from their initial panic to the story’s lighthearted resolution. Each pair of boots comes equipped with a pair of arms as well as eyes, eyebrows, and mouths capable of clearly showing a wide range of emotions that will help young children follow along. The typesetting isn’t especially inviting, and the storytelling’s at times wordy, but the conclusion will invite kids to think about how they and their friends can help each other —or at least consider their own footwear with new curiosity.
Rubber rain boots come to life to solve the mystery of their missing friend in this memorable picture book.
Great for fans of Sarah LuAnn Perkins’s On a Rainy Day, Jean Taft’s Worm Weather.