Boot & Shoe

Born in the same litter, Boots and Shoe did everything together, from eating to sleeping. Everything, that is, except porch-sitting. Boot was a back-porch kind of dog, and Shoe a front-porch one. Then one day a squirrel happened by and caused lots of trouble (as they are wont to do), leading the two canine brothers on a chase around the house. When Boot ends up at the back porch, and Shoe at the front, they are each bewildered not to see the other, and decide to keep watch until their counterpart returns. It is, as the narrator informs the reader, a lonely time...

Having greatly enjoyed some of author/illustrator Marla Frazee's other picture-books, from All the World to The Farmer and the Clown, I was fully prepared to take Boot & Shoe show more to heart, especially when I saw it was about cats. Except it wasn't about cats after all, I was simply deceived by my first glance at the cover... which turned out to be just fine! This is a sweet story, even if it doesn't have the emotional depth of some of Frazee's other titles, and features a heartwarming ending, one that will satisfy young child listeners. The artwork, as is to be expected from this illustrator, is absolutely adorable, capturing Boot and Shoe's changing emotional state perfectly. Recommended to all young dog lovers, and to anyone searching for engaging and humorous tales for the picture-book set. show less

Two dogs, born in the same litter, live together but have opposite but predictable preferences and routines. When a squirrel enters their lives one day, their worlds are turned upside down. It appears that chasing the squirrel has jumbled their routines. Desperate for the comfort of their counterparts, the dogs search for one another in their usual spots. However, because one is looking for the other, and vice versa, they find themselves in a seemingly endless search. That is until that finally discover each other the next day at their food dishes, a daily routine that they share with each other. This book is fun, but also carries the message that celebrates friendship and differences.

Marla Frazee is one of my favorite illustrators, hands down. This sweet book centers on two dogs who have their little routines down pat, until one day a squirrel turns everything topsy turvy, leaving Boot & Shoe bereft and confused. Read this aloud to a group of preschoolers, who also like their routines (and maybe too their parents and teachers). They will find much to love about Boot & Shoe and will be rooting for a happy ending, because, "even in the worst of times, a dog still needs to pee."

I found Boot and Shoe to be a very charming book about love and friendship. I really enjoyed the design of the book. The vignettes that were used for the illustrations really helped to make the book more intimate, while at the same time modeling the close friendship that these two dogs shared. I also observed that, because there were two main characters in this book, and the author wanted to highlight their similarities, she chose to illustrate their identical actions right next to each other on the same or facing page. I felt that this helped to convey the emotions of the book, whether it was a comedic part, as in when the squirrel was in the face of each dog, or a sad moment, like when Boot and Shoe each went around the house looking show more for each other at the same time, and therefore failing to find one another.
All in all, this book is definitely one that I would like to share, and I am interested in looking into more of Frazee's books. show less

Although the included cataloging lists [1. Solitude - Fiction] as the main subject heading, I prefer to think that this sweet and lovely story is about loyalty and friendship. Not too sappy, with just the right amount of humor, this touching tale (pun intended) was a big hit at a recent outreach visit to preschoolers (though I must confess that I originally thought that Boot and Shoe were cats!). Marla Frazee is wonderfully talented.
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Cute brother dogs get all sad when an evil squirrel separates them one long and lonely night. But it's funny!

This is a breath of fresh air after the three super dull picture books my wife and I read earlier tonight.

Thank god for dogs. And potty jokes.

This book was very cute and I really liked the penciled drawings which were more on the realistic side but still fun. Boot & Shoe displayed a good example of keeping friends close but also embracing solitude and enjoying some alone time. The part where Boot & Shoe chase the squirrel was the funniest part of the story due to the illustrations.