Written by Elizabeth Pulsford & illustrated by Krista Brennan
Reviewed by Sandy Driessens
“Boots was waiting … waiting for his Farmer”.
“Boots was just a pair of boots” but his life started when a young Queensland cattle farmer first put him on. He was hard working and as the years went by, Boots faced drought, fire and flood while watching his family grow and change. He experienced the love and loss, the joy and hardship that comes with working in rural Australia. Boots had ‘tasted the red earth and trod in time with the heartbeat of the bush” and, like his farmer, after many years, he was worn out. It was time to rest his weary soles comforted by the certainty that he was loved.
Elizabeth Pulsford’s second picture book creates a story that honours the memory of her grandfather and the often times, unforgiving country in which he lived. What better way to portray the paths followed by our loved ones, than treading in their shoes, in this case a pair of work boots. With simple sentences she takes us through a well-lived life, from youth to death.
Pulsford’s text becomes uniquely Australian through Krista Brennan’s illustrations. Capturing the harsh landscape with red dust and the extremes in weather, her images also express the connection with the land and family. Her combination of watercolours and digital rendering creates pictures with details that speak to Australian icons and lifestyle.
This story, written with love, was created for early primary readers. It celebrates one aspect of the Australian identity, though it could be translated to all walks of life. It’s an ideal precedent for discussing the importance of our family stories, how they inform how we live now and why we should preserve these memories. A delightful book.
“Boots was waiting … waiting for his Farmer”.
