Santa's Tatty Old Boots

Santa’s getting dressed for Christmas Eve, when he discovers his boots are worn out! Mrs. Claus, the elves, and the reindeer all want to help, but how will Santa keep warm on a snowy night wearing his tatty old boots?

This richly illustrated, holiday tale celebrates sustainability, and reusing rather than buying, as it shares the funny ways Santa tries to find some warm footwear.

Readers' Comments

“Santa must have a new pair of boots…. Or is there a better solution? Baldwin’s rollicking, rhyming Christmas Eve tale addresses the throw-away nature of modern culture so subtly that little ones won’t realize it’s anything other than fun. Illustrated with beautiful watercolors reminiscent of vintage Christmas cards . . .” —Barbara Jean Hicks, author of Frozen: A Sister More Like Me and Once Upon a Parsnip.

“A playful, funny story with rhyming text that children will want to repeat, and wonderfully detailed illustrations—including those of the magical North Pole—that children will get joyfully lost in.” —Abi Maxwell, librarian and author of The Lake People.

“…Comes to life through the colorful, detailed illustrations of the mother-son artistic team of Karel Hayes and John Gorey. This latest effort has all the magic, whimsy and humor we have come to know and love.” —Andy Opel, author of the Winnipesaukee series: The Witches, The Weirs, and The Mansion (all illustrated by Karel Hayes and John Gorey)

About the Author

Sherry Baldwin loves to write about school, the beach, and winter. She is the author of three previous, award-winning titles: Beecher Bear Plays Here and There, There’s a Lobster in My Lunch Box, and Fiddler Crabs at School. She has been recognized by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in South Carolina with awards for first place in children’s writing. A graduate of George Mason University, with a bachelor of science in education, and the University of Virginia with a master’s in education, Sherry lives with her husband, their five children, and many pets in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. You can visit her on her website BriteReads.com.

About the Illustrator

Artist John Gorey and his mother, author/illustrator Karel Hayes, have been collaborating on artwork for most of John’s life. Santa’s Tatty Old Boots is John’s fourth picture book and Karel’s twenty-seventh illustrated book. John lives in Maine with his wife Lesley and their cats, and Karel lives in New Hampshire with her husband Brent, sans cats unless they come to visit. Karel’s best-known, award-winning and NY Times reviewed books are The Winter Visitors, The Summer Visitors, The Autumn Visitors, and The Christmas Visitors.

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