The Christmas Boot by Lisa Wheeler is a story about isolation. Hannah lives in a ramshackle cabin in a wooded, mountainous countryside. One day, she finds a boot in the snow, and it fits her foot perfectly. When Hannah speaks to the boot, it grants her a matching one and warm mittens. It’s the magic of Christmas! Soon after, Hanah hears a knock on her door. A man with a white beard and wearing a red suit is looking for his lost boot. This surprise guest stays for tea and conversation. Then, he gifts her warm mittens and boots of her own. As he flies off in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, Hannah finds another happy surprise.
There are no elves or bright-eyed Rudolf in this Christmas story, no tinsel or pile of ribbon-wrapped presents. However, Jerry Pinkney’s lush and thoughtful paintings bring to life this Christmas story for the older reader. Isolation is a topic for our time.
This book is read aloud online by MettaThoughts.
My Picture Book Talk lesson for this story is here.
