Children's Book Blitz: Just Look at Those Boots by Sherry Roberts

A.J. has a brand-new pair of cowboy boots, a first-day-of-school plan, and every intention of enjoying both. What begins with kickball and a little dust soon leads back to the family farm, where chores, a waiting horse, and one poorly timed daydream turn those prized boots into part of a much bigger lesson. Inspired by Sherry Roberts’s father’s childhood in northeastern Oklahoma during the 1930s and 1940s, Just Look at Those Boots pairs a lively mishap with a glimpse of everyday rural life from another era.

Just Look at Those Boots

Author: Sherry Roberts

Illustrator: Victoria Marble

Genre: Children’s Western

Publication Date: March 6, 2026

Series: Just Call Me Pardner, Book Two

༺ ABOUT THE BOOK ༻

A.J. is so excited about his new cowboy boots. He wears them on the first day of the school year. Mom said it was for only one day and then back to his regular boots or sneakers. During recess, A.J. plays in an exciting game of kickball. When he gets home, Jon, the farmhand, sees the boots and tells him to clean them up. There are chores to do, and Lady Star has waited all day for him to go for a ride. 

 

On the ride, while A.J. daydreams, Lady Star sees the pond. A.J. learns that daydreaming, horseback riding, and ponds don’t go well together. In this book, Sherry Roberts continues to tell stories inspired by her father’s childhood during the 1930s and 1940s in Northeast Oklahoma. For those who enjoy stories of the American West, as well as history, Just Look at Those Boots is a must-read.

༺ WHY READ THIS BOOK ༻

A.J.’s attachment to his new boots gives younger readers an immediately understandable problem: how do you enjoy something special while still taking care of it? The answer unfolds through schoolyard play, farm responsibilities, and a horseback ride that goes off course when A.J.’s attention wanders. Rather than separating its lesson from the action, the story lets consequences do the teaching. 

 

The historical inspiration adds another layer--especially for older readers. Details such as farm chores, riding Lady Star, and Jon’s practical reminder to clean the boots connect A.J.’s adventure to childhood in northeastern Oklahoma during the 1930s and 1940s. That combination of mischief, responsibility, and family history gives adults several natural openings for conversation after the final page.

༺ WHO WILL LOVE IT ༻

Young readers drawn to horses, cowboy boots, farm life, and energetic school-day adventures will find plenty here to recognize and discuss. The book also suits families and classrooms exploring personal responsibility, caring for belongings, staying attentive around animals, or comparing childhood routines across generations. Adults who value stories rooted in family memories may especially appreciate the way A.J.’s mishap preserves a small piece of Oklahoma history without turning the story into a history lesson.

༺ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ༻

Sherry Roberts holds a Ph.D. from the University of Louisville in Curriculum and Instruction. She is an award-winning author and photographer of children’s picture books: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas…A First for Gus; Hello, Can I Bug You?; Sonnet, Sonnet, What’s In Your Bonnet?, The Best Reading Buddy; What’s Wrong With Barnaby?, A Visit Through the Wetlands, and Amica Helps Zoe. 

 

Dr. Roberts has a three-book middle grade series. Book one, The Galaxy According to Cece, began the series. Book two, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Mysterious Dr. Pruitt arrived next, followed by book three, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Stars Align. 

 

Her debut chapter book series begins with Just Call Me Pardner. The second book, Just Look at Those Boots, launched March 2026 and book three, Just Don’t Give A Girl A Frog, is coming in 2027. Each book can stand alone in this series.

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༺ LAST WORD ༻

A pair of boots may be the object A.J. treasures, but attention and responsibility are the real concerns at the center of his day. The school-to-farm setting gives the story room to move from excitement to consequence, while the family history behind it lends weight to the ordinary details. Just Look at Those Boots offers a useful reminder that childhood lessons often arrive through muddy mistakes, unfinished chores, and the animals patient enough to wait for us.

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