Title: Keeper of Soles
Reviewed by: Terese Wylie
Author: Teresa Bateman
Illustrator: Yayo
Publisher: Holiday House
Year of Publication: 2006
Genre: Fiction
Kirkus Book Review Rating: Starred Reviewed
Summary: Colin the cobbler was the best at his craft and made shoes for everyone in his kingdom. One night, Death comes knocking at his door to claim his soul. When Colin notices that Death is barefoot, he offers him to make him a pair of sandals, therefore prolonging his soul being taken. This continues until Colin and Death become friends and Death becomes the owner of every shoe imaginable. Finally, Death agrees that once the soles in the shoes Colin made him wear out he will come back for his soul.
Summary of Kirkus Star Review: Bateman writes a tale about a cobbler named Colin who ends up with Death at his door. After realizing his visitor is barefoot, Colin offers to make him a pair of sandals, which buys him another month. The sandals are followed by an array of other pieces of footwear and therefore more months for Colin. As the years and shoes passed Death and Colin become friends, but Death cannot deny his job. The book ends with a joke. The element of the book that might take of the actual story, is the artistic debut of Yayo, a Colombian artist. He perfectly brings to life Bateman's words and adds to the characters' personalities in minor details, such as Colin's shoe shaped bed, mugs, and coffee pot as well as Death frolicking through a cemetery.
Review by Terese Wylie: Bateman brings to life in an unique way the age old tale of someone cheating their way out of death. When Death comes to Colin the cobbler's door, he gives him a different kind of sole and prolonging his end. As the narrative progresses we see a friendship being built and are able to follow it through Yayo's creative and funny paintings. At times however, the illustrations preceded the text, which made the book hard to follow at times. Overall this book, with its creative text, amazing illustrations, and play on words it is a book that would be perfect to be in your family or school collection.
Keeper of Soles can be used in lesson about variations of the same story, being this one is a tale as old as time, just told in a new a way.
Author: Teresa Bateman
Illustrator: Yayo
Publisher: Holiday House
Year of Publication: 2006
Genre: Fiction
Kirkus Book Review Rating: Starred Reviewed
Summary: Colin the cobbler was the best at his craft and made shoes for everyone in his kingdom. One night, Death comes knocking at his door to claim his soul. When Colin notices that Death is barefoot, he offers him to make him a pair of sandals, therefore prolonging his soul being taken. This continues until Colin and Death become friends and Death becomes the owner of every shoe imaginable. Finally, Death agrees that once the soles in the shoes Colin made him wear out he will come back for his soul.
Summary of Kirkus Star Review: Bateman writes a tale about a cobbler named Colin who ends up with Death at his door. After realizing his visitor is barefoot, Colin offers to make him a pair of sandals, which buys him another month. The sandals are followed by an array of other pieces of footwear and therefore more months for Colin. As the years and shoes passed Death and Colin become friends, but Death cannot deny his job. The book ends with a joke. The element of the book that might take of the actual story, is the artistic debut of Yayo, a Colombian artist. He perfectly brings to life Bateman's words and adds to the characters' personalities in minor details, such as Colin's shoe shaped bed, mugs, and coffee pot as well as Death frolicking through a cemetery.
Review by Terese Wylie: Bateman brings to life in an unique way the age old tale of someone cheating their way out of death. When Death comes to Colin the cobbler's door, he gives him a different kind of sole and prolonging his end. As the narrative progresses we see a friendship being built and are able to follow it through Yayo's creative and funny paintings. At times however, the illustrations preceded the text, which made the book hard to follow at times. Overall this book, with its creative text, amazing illustrations, and play on words it is a book that would be perfect to be in your family or school collection.
Keeper of Soles can be used in lesson about variations of the same story, being this one is a tale as old as time, just told in a new a way.