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Keeper of Soles
Using some quick thinking and a little sweet-talking, Colin the humble shoemaker repeatedly outwits the black-robed figure who knocks on the shoemaker's door and demands his soul.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 15, 2006
1 person is currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Teresa Bateman
41 books55 followersTeresa Bateman was born in Moscow, Idaho, but moved to Washington State when she was three-years-old and that's where she has lived most of her life.
An avid writer and reader, Teresa has been making up stories and poems since she was in grade school. "To me it was as natural as breathing," says Teresa.
In school Teresa would drive her teachers crazy by 'creatively' completing assignments. She always met the letter of their assignment, if not the spirit. She worked hard to inject some humor into her work, knowing that the teachers would be reading hundreds of papers and wanting hers to stand out. It worked.
Teresa took English classes for fun in college and when she applied for a Washington State Teaching credential, the state looked at her transcripts and added an endorsement to teach English through the 12th grade!
Teresa cites her teacher Donnell Hunter at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, as having a big influence on her and her writing. He published a class magazine to which the class submitted their work under pen names. Their grades depended on how many stories were included in the magazine. Teresa submitted under about 15 different pen names--just to be annoying! But she knew her work was being judged on its merits alone. Mr. Hunter encouraged her journal writing and instilled in Teresa good writing habits that she continues to this day.
Teresa served an 18-month mission for her church in Argentina, and taught school for a year in Honduras. She also taught school briefly in St. Mary's, Alaska -- a little bush village with a population of 500 in the winter and 50 in the summer. She has been a librarian in the Federal Way School District in Washington for over 30 years.
Teresa writes every single day. She also works full-time, so that means some days she doesn't write much, but she always writes. When at home, Teresa's special spot for writing has a good view of the lilac bushes outside. A picture of a winding path through gentle rolling hills and meadows hangs on the wall. She tells herself, when stuck for an idea, that the story lies at the end of that path.
Teresa lives in Tacoma, Washington.
An avid writer and reader, Teresa has been making up stories and poems since she was in grade school. "To me it was as natural as breathing," says Teresa.
In school Teresa would drive her teachers crazy by 'creatively' completing assignments. She always met the letter of their assignment, if not the spirit. She worked hard to inject some humor into her work, knowing that the teachers would be reading hundreds of papers and wanting hers to stand out. It worked.
Teresa took English classes for fun in college and when she applied for a Washington State Teaching credential, the state looked at her transcripts and added an endorsement to teach English through the 12th grade!
Teresa cites her teacher Donnell Hunter at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, as having a big influence on her and her writing. He published a class magazine to which the class submitted their work under pen names. Their grades depended on how many stories were included in the magazine. Teresa submitted under about 15 different pen names--just to be annoying! But she knew her work was being judged on its merits alone. Mr. Hunter encouraged her journal writing and instilled in Teresa good writing habits that she continues to this day.
Teresa served an 18-month mission for her church in Argentina, and taught school for a year in Honduras. She also taught school briefly in St. Mary's, Alaska -- a little bush village with a population of 500 in the winter and 50 in the summer. She has been a librarian in the Federal Way School District in Washington for over 30 years.
Teresa writes every single day. She also works full-time, so that means some days she doesn't write much, but she always writes. When at home, Teresa's special spot for writing has a good view of the lilac bushes outside. A picture of a winding path through gentle rolling hills and meadows hangs on the wall. She tells herself, when stuck for an idea, that the story lies at the end of that path.
Teresa lives in Tacoma, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
October 4, 2012
The story of a desperate soul attempting to cheat death is a tale as old as time, but it's never been told so charmingly as in this book.
Colin is the best shoemaker in the kingdom. He cobbles for rich and poor alike, and is praised for his workmanship throughout the land. He humbly claims, "A well-made shoe does what it's supposed to do."
That statement never rings truer than the night Death comes a-knockin' on Colin's door. The quick-thinking shoemaker notices Death's bare tootsies and offers to make him a pair of sandals to go with his robe. Ushering Death out the door, he tells him to return in four weeks when the shoes will be ready. The flustered Death does as he's told. In this manner, Colin manages to keep Death supplied with footwear while at the same time saving his own skin. Eventually, an odd friendship develops.
The whimsical illustrations by Yayo could not be more perfect for this book and serve to lighten a somewhat macabre theme. In this artist's imagination, Death's toenails are painted with tiny skulls, and his new sandals are casket-shaped. Colin sleeps in a large wooden shoe, and a smiling Death is seen sprinting through a cemetery, gleefully leaping over a tombstone.
Shoe-fanciers and anyone with a sense of humor should find this book delightful. Who'd have thought Death was such a slave to fashion?
Colin is the best shoemaker in the kingdom. He cobbles for rich and poor alike, and is praised for his workmanship throughout the land. He humbly claims, "A well-made shoe does what it's supposed to do."
That statement never rings truer than the night Death comes a-knockin' on Colin's door. The quick-thinking shoemaker notices Death's bare tootsies and offers to make him a pair of sandals to go with his robe. Ushering Death out the door, he tells him to return in four weeks when the shoes will be ready. The flustered Death does as he's told. In this manner, Colin manages to keep Death supplied with footwear while at the same time saving his own skin. Eventually, an odd friendship develops.
The whimsical illustrations by Yayo could not be more perfect for this book and serve to lighten a somewhat macabre theme. In this artist's imagination, Death's toenails are painted with tiny skulls, and his new sandals are casket-shaped. Colin sleeps in a large wooden shoe, and a smiling Death is seen sprinting through a cemetery, gleefully leaping over a tombstone.
Shoe-fanciers and anyone with a sense of humor should find this book delightful. Who'd have thought Death was such a slave to fashion?
May 28, 2017
It took me a second read to appreciate the odd art. But it is perfect for the text. Love that the faces are an homage to soles, and to Munch. Love the details in pictures and text. The story is long for a pre-schooler's picture-book, but not for the fun a slightly older reader will get out of it. The more I think about, the more I both love and admire it. What a wonderful twist on the Cheating Death theme.
April 10, 2019
This book involves a play on words that helps with the humor. Where it is a children's book, I'm not sure if they would really understand the difference between soles and souls, but I'm not sure it really matters. With the illustrations, the story comes across clearly.
For me, this is not a book that I will read again. I think that it is great for the age group it is geared towards, but for me as an adult, I'm okay with a one time read.
Author: Teresa Bateman
Publisher: Holiday House
Publication Date: January 1st 2006
For me, this is not a book that I will read again. I think that it is great for the age group it is geared towards, but for me as an adult, I'm okay with a one time read.
Author: Teresa Bateman
Publisher: Holiday House
Publication Date: January 1st 2006
July 9, 2019
This book is probably too sophisticated for the target audience, but it was clever and fun. I would definitely recommend it for older elementary (those who think they've outgrown picture books). An original twist on the idea of people trying to cheat or outsmart Death when he comes for you. Great illustrations, too.
January 27, 2017
I really liked this story. It reads like a folktale, I think it's an original.
October 11, 2014
Death has often been softened by our culture in an effort to calm those of us who fear death when it comes. IE: EVERYBODY. In the film The Seventh Sign, The Spectre of Death is a total meany--until a sweet girl appears to offer him kindly--KINDLY--a box of strawberries. That captured my heart, especially considering shock jock Howard Stern does not like the film AT ALL. It has no relation to real life, blah blah blah. To which I say: Love is REAL! DEAL WITH IT!!! This book cements my belief that Death is not that bad, and neither is life. The Spectre of Death (or SOD, for short, but today we'll call him Soddy) needs the soul of an aging cobbler...who keeps giving him soles anyway! All sorts of shoes for Soddy to wear so that he won't get arches or sores when he walks the earth doing what Soddy usually does on a perennial basis. The drawings from Yayo are cute, especially when Yayo draws Death with humanity and, yes, LOVE!!! AWWWWWW! See? It's like they say in Star Trek: how we face Death is just as important as howwe face life, and Teresa Bateman has faced both admirably!
May 10, 2013
I've read Keeper of Soles to fourth grade through sixth grade audiences. I love the double entendre as well as the great illustrations by Yayo. Clever and funny, this book is wonderful for older audiences.
The Grim Reaper appears at a shoemaker's door one night asking for the shoemaker's soul. As any good shoemaker would do, the shoemaker looked at Death's feet and noticed that Death was barefoot. Cleverly, the shoemaker suggests a pair of sandals to cover Death's feet. Snatching Death's scroll of names out of his hand, the shoemakers sketches a pattern and says he'll see Death in four weeks. This so confuses Death, that he goes along with the plan. He appears year after year, each time getting more and more shoes for his wardrobe until Death finally announces that he has come for the shoemaker's soul and won't be denied. The shoemaker cleverly points out that he has given Death sole after sole.
The Grim Reaper appears at a shoemaker's door one night asking for the shoemaker's soul. As any good shoemaker would do, the shoemaker looked at Death's feet and noticed that Death was barefoot. Cleverly, the shoemaker suggests a pair of sandals to cover Death's feet. Snatching Death's scroll of names out of his hand, the shoemakers sketches a pattern and says he'll see Death in four weeks. This so confuses Death, that he goes along with the plan. He appears year after year, each time getting more and more shoes for his wardrobe until Death finally announces that he has come for the shoemaker's soul and won't be denied. The shoemaker cleverly points out that he has given Death sole after sole.
February 28, 2013
This book was a great and humorous book about a shoemaker who makes shoes for everyone, including the rich and the poor. One night he is frightened by a knock at the door. The knock at the door was from Death who was coming to collect his soul. The shoemaker decides that Death needs some shoes so he makes him some shoes. In exchange for the shoes, Death allows him to live longer. This is a great book for teaching students how they can use their imagination to write and tell elaborate stories. This would be a great book to use when teaching context clues because it has a lot of unfamiliar vocabulary words that can be explained and introduced to the students. Also, this book can be used to teach the students the importance of using the right amount of dialogue when telling a story. Overall, this book is a great book!
April 26, 2016
Keeper of Soles is about a shoe maker named Colin. His time had come so death went to his house to receive his soul. Colin tried to outsmart Death by continuously giving him a reason to need new shoes in which Colin would make him for free in order to give himself more time. The two ended up becoming friendly towards each other and Colin continued making Death shoes for years to come until it had truly been his time.
This book is entertaining and can be fun to read to children, however, only if used for entertainment purposes. I believe that while reading the book, one could think that you could always outsmart you way out of situations which is not true or okay. You must do you work and accept wrong doings. I understand that he was also fighting for his life but he was being tricky and trying to mischievously beat Death.
This book is entertaining and can be fun to read to children, however, only if used for entertainment purposes. I believe that while reading the book, one could think that you could always outsmart you way out of situations which is not true or okay. You must do you work and accept wrong doings. I understand that he was also fighting for his life but he was being tricky and trying to mischievously beat Death.
February 3, 2012
Ages PreK-3
Death comes to collect on the shoemakers soul and instead gets a whole lot of soles.
My son is obsessed with death, monsters, and other creatures of the night. This is a humorous tale of the Grim Reaper that isn't too dark or scary.
Illustration: I'm not usually fond of illustrations that I call "I could have done that" or "I could have done better than that" illustrations, which is where I would put the illustrations in this book. However, the illustrator is witty enough in his use of the shoe theme (and I bet an art teacher could tell me if there was a word for that kind of artistic pun) that I found the illustrations fun and interesting, something my son and I could discuss.
Death comes to collect on the shoemakers soul and instead gets a whole lot of soles.
My son is obsessed with death, monsters, and other creatures of the night. This is a humorous tale of the Grim Reaper that isn't too dark or scary.
Illustration: I'm not usually fond of illustrations that I call "I could have done that" or "I could have done better than that" illustrations, which is where I would put the illustrations in this book. However, the illustrator is witty enough in his use of the shoe theme (and I bet an art teacher could tell me if there was a word for that kind of artistic pun) that I found the illustrations fun and interesting, something my son and I could discuss.
February 4, 2016
Death comes for Colin, the best shoemaker in the kingdom, in this amusing twist on a trickster tale. Instead of giving up his soul, Colin notices Death is barefoot and offers to make him a pair of sandals, to be ready in four weeks. When Death returns, Colin fits him with the sandals and tells him to try them out for a couple of weeks. Death comes back and Colin offers to make him a pair of boots. Again and again, over years, Colin puts Death off with a new pair of shoes. Finally Death demands his due, Colin's soul, and Colin insists he's given Death "sole after sole." Once again Death is put off but he promises to return when his shoes wear out, which, given the quality of Colin's handiwork will not happen for many years.
July 20, 2009
What would you do if death came knocking at your door? The village shoemaker tricks death by making him all sorts of shoes to wear as he goes collecting souls. Death rewards him by telling the shoemaker that his soul will not be collected until the fine pair of shoes wear out. The shoemaker is pleased because he is the best in all the village, he will have many year of life before his shoes wear out.
November 16, 2016
When death comes for the cobbler, what can the poor shoe man do but make him some shoes? Colin is able to cheat death again and again as he gives him more and more "soles." Eventually Colin plays a game for his own soul. It's a good thing death has a sense of humor.
The pictures were very cartooney and yellow. I didn't like the illustration. The story, however, was very clever. A new twist on the folklore of cheating death. I would use this book with my other folklore books in teaching.
The pictures were very cartooney and yellow. I didn't like the illustration. The story, however, was very clever. A new twist on the folklore of cheating death. I would use this book with my other folklore books in teaching.
November 20, 2010
Since my kids are still very young, they didn't really get the premise of this book. But, I loved it! I thought it was very imaginative and I loved the illustrations because the artist incorporated shoes into every aspect of each picture. It will be a while before my kids enjoy this book as much as I do!
**Update: My kids understood it better this time around--and I still loved it!
**Update: My kids understood it better this time around--and I still loved it!
August 23, 2007
This had a really neat, novel subject matter. Death has come for the cobbler's soul, but he gets new shoes, instead. The illustrations are really neat, too. It's more of a book that adults would appreciate.
December 21, 2008
This is a picture book for a little older reader and I have to say, I loved, loved, loved it. It's the story of a shoemaker striving to outwit Death knocking at his door. I think it's clever and touching.
October 7, 2010
A shoemaker is confronted by the Grim Reaper one evening, but he isn't ready yet. He offers to make the Reaper a pair of shoes, and then another in an effort to buy himself more time. Clever artwork, and a clever play on words with soles vs souls.
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December 6, 2010I liked this book, I'm not sure it will be good for little ones because of the concept of Death but second graders should understand. It can be used for lessons with words with different meanings but sound alike.
December 4, 2014
3.75 stars I really liked this story...the pictures...YIKES Weird! The cover almost stopped me from reading it because it was so odd...but the story was great. I like shoes so I totally got this book!!
June 15, 2008
shoemaker is pursued by black-robed death who seeks his soul. he makes death shoes and the shoemaker buys time by making different shoes for death. makes death laugh with sole/soul joke.
August 15, 2008
This book tickles me. Not sure why. I guess I like clever plays on words.
October 23, 2008
Very cleaver story about a shoemaker and how he cheats death by making shoes for 'Death'.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
October 28, 2008
Cute and fun.
September 24, 2010
Loved this. I would recommend it for an older child perhaps in the 9 and up age range.
February 1, 2011
I usually don't rate children's picture books, but this one is my new favorites. A fun play on words of sole and soul, a shoe maker outwits death.
February 16, 2011
I'm surprised my 2-year old liked this. It seemed a bit old for him, but he did. It might be a good book to read if you want to bring up death with children.
March 24, 2011
a clever, brilliant book based on a pun. worth reading as an adult or kid.
July 25, 2011
A fun book to read on the day of dead. It doesn't have anything to do with the holiday but a funny book about the grim reaper.
October 9, 2011
Didn't expect my child to select this book randomly... Interesting story of a shoemaker outwitting death. Love the play on words and the illustrations.
February 2, 2012
Picture Book for older kids. Death comes to visit a shoemaker.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews