River and the Amazing Yellow Wellie Adventure

by Emily Dreeling, Misha Jovanovic (Illustrator)

Overview

When four young pairs of yellow wellies journey to the top of a mystical mountain to ask three wise old women two very big questions, one thing they never expected was their little owner, River, to be joining them.

Together they set out on the adventure of a lifetime. But will they make it? And, more importantly, will they find the answers they're looking for?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798985310528
Publisher:	Rising River Press LLC
Publication date:	08/21/2022
Series:	Yellow Wellie Adventure Series , #1
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	70
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.15(d)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Rising River Press is the official home of the Yellow Wellie Adventure Series. Written by Emily Dreeling, this trilogy is a tribute to her daughter, River, whom she hopes has as many happy days as she did in her little yellow wellies.

She currently lives in California with her family, surrounded by a fairytale wilderness that provides endless inspiration.

Her sincerest thanks go to her illustrator, Misha Jovanovic, whose artistic brilliance brought this dream to life.

Editorial Reviews

2023-07-06
Four pairs of waterproof rubber boots discover a secret world in Dreeling’s illustrated tale for kids.

Bertie, Lexie, Miley, and Teddy are footwear known as “wellies” who’ve never ventured past their home’s garden gate. A brave umbrella encourages the boots to “leap into the great unknown once you’re all old enough.” They take her words to heart and plan an expedition to Galoshes Mountain to find the wellie elders and ask their advice. They sneak out through a dog-door, hop a fence, and head into the forest. Soon, the “YELLOW WELLY GANG,” as they call themselves, realize that River, their young human owner, has followed them; she’s amazed that the boots can talk. The footwear discuss leading River home, but she promises to keep the outing a secret if they all travel to the mountain together. (She also removes her slippers and chooses a pair of boots to wear.) At the mountain, they discover a festival of wellies enjoying music and food. The group partakes in the fun and continues to a cave to meet the elders; River, however, must wait outside. The boots ask the older footwear—Wilhelmina, Nelly, and Stella—how to overcome their fears and flourish in the wider world. The elders advise them to stick together and lean on one another. The boots also ask how to take care of River and are told that their sturdiness will support her. Before the wellies depart, Wilhelmina gives them some “magic mud dust” to sprinkle over River so she’ll have “added protection” and forget the night ever happened.The book’s design and layout are its selling points: Jovanovic’s full-color cartoon illustrations are modern, colorful, and crisp, and pages alternate between text and illustrations, with words overlaid on patterned backgrounds. Each pair of boots has a distinctive look, although their personalities feel interchangeable. The narrative is lighthearted and sometimes funny, as when Stella proclaims, “PLEASE do not fear, as in a world full of flimsy footwear, we’re the one shoe that’ll never fall apart!” Dreeling provides just enough sensory details to paint a clear picture, as when she describes the “moonlight trek through the woods—squelching through muddy swamps and splish splashing through streams.” She also uses lively language to describe action, as when the wellies must return home: “Knowing sunrise is just around the corner, the little yellow brigade humbly bow before the elders and make a run for it.” However, although the narrative is creative, it has a few issues that are difficult to ignore. For example, readers don’t meet River until 13 pages in, and she receives scant character development; it’s unclear why she has such a close relationship with her boots, or why she owns four pairs. A few scenes featuring the girl and the boots before their journey might have provided much-needed context. Also, although the elders are adamant that they “mustn’t be found out,” it’s unclear what’s at stake if they were discovered. The excessive use of all-caps in parts of the book also detracts from an otherwise effortless reading experience.

A visually engaging, if unevenly executed, children’s book.

Kirkus Reviews