Magic Boots, The [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Scott Emerson (Author), Howard Post (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

When a boy named William Wilkins puts on his red cowboy boots, his imagination can take him anywhere--to the Amazon River, to the Wild West, to the moon, and even flying on a magic carpet! When his feet outgrow the boots, William is understandably despondent. However after falling asleep one night he discovers he can still visit these far-off places, because the magic is in his mind, not in his boots!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?William has a pair of magical red cowboy boots that transport him down the Amazon, to Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and on a longhorn cattle drive up the Chisholm Trail. When he outgrows his boots, he is crushed. Then he falls asleep, dreams about the wonderful places that he has seen, and realizes that "it wasn't the boots that were magic. It was him." Large full-color paintings convey the rich variety of the boy's journeys, with deep blue backgrounds and brightly tinted lines and shadings. However, while they're attractive, they are rather static. The travels are exotic, but do not seem particularly filled with joy. William himself is a bit overshadowed, and readers don't get much of a sense of his personality, either through the illustrations or text. The well-meaning conclusion, which implies that imagination is the real magic, may disappoint some readers drawn to the story by the fantastic element.?Steven Engelfried, West Lynn Library, OR
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Ages 4-6. Young William leads an extraordinary life. With his magic cowboy boots and his faithful dog, Bob, he can travel anywhere he wants just by thinking about it. He can canoe down the Amazon, ride a bucking bronco in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and drive a herd of cattle up the Chisholm Trail, all this and more because of the mysterious magic in his soft, red cowboy boots. But as William's mind grows from his wonderful experiences, his feet also grow, until one day, his boots no longer fit. It's only by accident that William comes to realize that the magic is not in the boots after all--it's in him. Children will be attracted to the brief text, which is printed in large, dark type, but although the story is imaginative, there isn't much plot. It will be Post's superb, realistic illustrations of exotic places--not the tale itself--that will attract kids. Lauren Peterson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Gibbs Smith (August 19, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879058749
• ISBN-13: 978-0879058746
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 9.1 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,619,348 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Do you still believe in magic boots?, April 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Magic Boots, The (Paperback)

Dorothy had her ruby slippers, but William Wilkins has redcowboy boots. Every morning when William gets out of bed he brusheshis teeth, pats his dog, Bob, and puts on his cowboy boots. His boots are as soft as Bob's ears, handsomely stitched from toe to top, and, as the title announces, magic. When William wears the boots he can travel anywhere and he takes us to some of his favorite places, lovingly illustrated in colors as muted as weathered barn siding. But one fateful morning William is horrified to discover his feet no longer can be shoved into the boots. He comes up with some ingenious remedies, none of which change the size of his feet. That night he falls asleep crying and discovers the true source of the boots magic.