Just Look at Those Boots
by Sherry Roberts
Children's Western
Date Published: 02-26-2026
Publisher: Solander Press
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. His boots get very messy during the game.
When he gets home, Jon, the farm hand, see the boots and tells him to clean
them up then get into his work boots. Jon tells him to give Lady Star a ride
because she’s waited all day for him.
On the ride, A.J. heads to the shallow pond out in one field. While A.J.
daydreams, Lady Star sees the pond and decides to get there fast. A.J. loses
control of Lady Star and finds himself thrown into the pond. Daydreaming on
the ride means A.J. has additional chores when he returns to the barn.
In this second 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 stores of the American West, as well as history,
Just Look At Those Boots, is a must-read.
Excerpt
“Hi, Benji. Ready for a new school year?” I ask as I sit beside him on the bus.
“I like summer better.” He shrugs as he lets me know his feelings. It’s the first day, and Benji looks like he just got out of bed. Of course, Benji always looks like he just got out of bed. His hair is going every which way, and his shirt is wrinkled like he slept in it. He probably did. “Why are you late?”
“Been one of those mornings when everything was going wrong. Sadie made a mess while I was milking her, and I had to change clothes.
Then Jon saw me daydreaming as I was walking to the bus. Of course, Lady Star was at the rails with him. I had to go over to give her a nose rub. So, yeah, I guess I was daydreaming a bit.” I shrug my shoulders.
Benji laughs. “You’re always daydreaming. What was it about this time?”
“I was thinking about the first day of school. I want it to be a good year. Also, I was looking at my new boots.”
“Wow, I didn’t notice. Those are great. When did you get them? Won’t they hurt if you wear them all day? You haven’t really worn them in yet.”
Benji talks like this. He asks questions but forgets to give you time to answer any of them.
“Benji, stop.”
Benji takes a breath. I look at my boots again. “I got them on Saturday. I wore them all Saturday and Sunday while working around the farm.
They don’t hurt. They’re still stiff but it’ll get better. I like wearing them, and Mom said it was okay to wear them today but maybe not every day.”
About the Author
Sherry Roberts is an award-winning children’s book author. She holds a
Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisville. She has
written multiple award-winning fiction picture books such as ‘Twas the
Night Before Christmas…A First for Gus, Hello, Can I Bug You?, Gabriel
and the Special Memorial Day, What’s Wrong with Barnaby, and The Best
Reading Buddy. She also has written two non-fiction award-winning picture
books, Sonnet, Sonnet, What’s in Your Bonnet? and A Visit Through the
Wetlands. These two were illustrated with her photography. Sherry’s
newest picture book, Amica Helps Zoe, was featured in Kirkus e-newsletter June
2025 as Indie Pick and received a Get It: Recommend review.
As a former middle school teacher, Dr. Roberts decided to write her first
middle-grade novel (ages 8-13). Her debut novel, The Galaxy According to CeCe,
is the first book in a three-book series. It was officially released on
February 24, 2024. Book two, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Mysterious Dr.
Pruitt, was released August 2024. Book three, The Galaxy According to Cece:
The Stars Align, released February 2025.
Sherry’s next venture is a chapter book series (ages 6-8). The first
book, Just Call Me Pardner, was released August 1, 2025. The series is about a
young boy in the 1930s on a small farm in Northeastern Oklahoma and is
inspired by stories of her father’s childhood in the 1930s. Book 2, Just
Look at Those Boots, launches in early 2026, with Book 3, Just Don’t
Give a Girl a Frog, launching in November 2026.
Dr. Roberts has also written many articles that appear in various academic
journals, along with three textbooks. Personal Financial Literacy is in its
fourth edition (Pearson). She is an associate professor of Marketing in Jones
College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University.
Contact Links
Website
Facebook
Purchase Links
https://mybook.to/JustLookatThoseBoots
Amazon
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