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Shoe Wars
Readers who have devoured Captain Underpants, Wimpy Kid, and the works of Raina Telgemeier will love the high-energy, hilarious antics of the Foot family from one of the largest names in the UK.
Step up to the challenge . . . win or shoes!
Meet Ruby and Bear. Their dad has just invented the most amazing thing ever -- flying shoes! But his horrible boss Wendy Wedge knows that entering flying shoes will guarantee the Golden Shoe Award, and she will do anything to win the trophy.
Ruby and Bear must outwit a bully, infiltrate a shady company, and rescue their dad all while keeping the shoes hidden. This can only mean one thing. It's . . . shoe wars!
The brand new, laugh-out-loud, spectacular stand-alone story from multi-million copy bestselling author and illustrator Liz Pichon.
Step up to the challenge . . . win or shoes!
Meet Ruby and Bear. Their dad has just invented the most amazing thing ever -- flying shoes! But his horrible boss Wendy Wedge knows that entering flying shoes will guarantee the Golden Shoe Award, and she will do anything to win the trophy.
Ruby and Bear must outwit a bully, infiltrate a shady company, and rescue their dad all while keeping the shoes hidden. This can only mean one thing. It's . . . shoe wars!
The brand new, laugh-out-loud, spectacular stand-alone story from multi-million copy bestselling author and illustrator Liz Pichon.
Paperback
Published June 24, 2021
60 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Liz Pichon
182 books573 followersL. Pichon says that when she was little, she loved to draw, and her mom said she was very good at making a mess (this is still true today). She kept drawing, went to art school, became a designer and art director at Jive Records, and began to publish children’s books. After its publication in the U.K., The Brilliant World of Tom Gates won several prestigious awards, including the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize, and the Blue Peter Book Award. L. Pichon lives in Brighton, England, with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
January 4, 2021
Iako je ova cipelastična priča namenjena nekim ljudima malo nižim od mene, koji nose manji broj cipela (43, ako vas baš zanima), i imaju malo manje godina (da kažemo 20ak), i ja sam u njoj podjednako uživao kao i oni! Ovo je skroz jedna od onih od 9 do 99 godina priča!
November 30, 2020
Shoes, villains, dogs, and tons and tons of fun in this delightful book by Liz Pichon.
I have read most of the Tom Gates books and while I enjoy them, because of the fun art and Liz Pichon’s fun writing style, I was a bit bored of the series. So imagine my delight when I saw she wrote something TOTALLY different. This time about shoes, and a mean shoe villain, and family. I just had to try it out, and I can tell you that this was just the best and the most fun!
Meet Ruby and Bear and Ivor, the first two are kids and brother/sister and the last one is their dad who is an amazing inventor and shoemaker. Really, this guy can make anything! But he is under contract with one of the worst people in the world and the one who controls the town, Wendy Wedge. There is a big competition coming and things are getting quite hairy with each day. And more fun and more exciting and more wow.
I loved seeing the kids try to help out their dad, try to make sure he is safe, later on there is even a big rescue in which the kids try to find there dad, but in the meantime find something that may be the rescue of everyone in this little town (which is, as expected from the big villain Wendy, even named after her).
The kids are awesome (not just for the above mentioned part, but also with other things, though I was shaking my head at what they did earlier in the book that caused a lot of bad things to happen and didn’t make me happy), but other characters that we see in this book are also well written. Like Bert, the only guy not under contract of Wendy and the only one who still has his own shoe store. Or Betty, who works with Ivor but is definitely not amused with her employer. Or Chelsea, Betty’s daughter.
The villain, Wendy Wedge, was well written. That is pretty rare. Sometimes I am just so frustrated with a villain I cannot read on. But with Wendy? I could. I was curious what her next elaborate plan would be and how many wedges did this girl have? We learn quite a bit about her, though there was one fact I saw coming for miles.
I loved reading about all the shoes, and the big show at the end was fantastic. Where do I sign up to get those shoes? Hello? Next to the fun show there was of course the big finale as Ivor, Bert, Betty, and the kids try to stop Wendy from doing any more. That part was also very exciting and I loved how it all came together.
I would love to see more of Sally’s (the mother) book and all the creations she made.
The book is also illustrated and I loved the illustrations. Oh, btw, was that Tom Gates near the end with the award show starting?
All in all, I could probably talk more about the amazing flying shoes, the annoying Walter, the epilogue which seems to promise more story, that people lived in actual shoeboxes (just a bigger more liveable size), someone who just seems neighbourly becomes epic, treat your minions with kindness or things will bite you in your butt, but let me just cut the review here and tell you all to read this fun, hilarious, shoe-tastic book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I have read most of the Tom Gates books and while I enjoy them, because of the fun art and Liz Pichon’s fun writing style, I was a bit bored of the series. So imagine my delight when I saw she wrote something TOTALLY different. This time about shoes, and a mean shoe villain, and family. I just had to try it out, and I can tell you that this was just the best and the most fun!
Meet Ruby and Bear and Ivor, the first two are kids and brother/sister and the last one is their dad who is an amazing inventor and shoemaker. Really, this guy can make anything! But he is under contract with one of the worst people in the world and the one who controls the town, Wendy Wedge. There is a big competition coming and things are getting quite hairy with each day. And more fun and more exciting and more wow.
I loved seeing the kids try to help out their dad, try to make sure he is safe, later on there is even a big rescue in which the kids try to find there dad, but in the meantime find something that may be the rescue of everyone in this little town (which is, as expected from the big villain Wendy, even named after her).
The kids are awesome (not just for the above mentioned part, but also with other things, though I was shaking my head at what they did earlier in the book that caused a lot of bad things to happen and didn’t make me happy), but other characters that we see in this book are also well written. Like Bert, the only guy not under contract of Wendy and the only one who still has his own shoe store. Or Betty, who works with Ivor but is definitely not amused with her employer. Or Chelsea, Betty’s daughter.
The villain, Wendy Wedge, was well written. That is pretty rare. Sometimes I am just so frustrated with a villain I cannot read on. But with Wendy? I could. I was curious what her next elaborate plan would be and how many wedges did this girl have? We learn quite a bit about her, though there was one fact I saw coming for miles.
I loved reading about all the shoes, and the big show at the end was fantastic. Where do I sign up to get those shoes? Hello? Next to the fun show there was of course the big finale as Ivor, Bert, Betty, and the kids try to stop Wendy from doing any more. That part was also very exciting and I loved how it all came together.
I would love to see more of Sally’s (the mother) book and all the creations she made.
The book is also illustrated and I loved the illustrations. Oh, btw, was that Tom Gates near the end with the award show starting?
All in all, I could probably talk more about the amazing flying shoes, the annoying Walter, the epilogue which seems to promise more story, that people lived in actual shoeboxes (just a bigger more liveable size), someone who just seems neighbourly becomes epic, treat your minions with kindness or things will bite you in your butt, but let me just cut the review here and tell you all to read this fun, hilarious, shoe-tastic book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
February 20, 2021
This is a super fun read that should bring joy to children of any age but it is really geared towards the middle-grade set. The graphic style of the story is someplace between a graphic novel and a picture book. There are different types of font and some of those fonts help bring the story to life. The story follows Ruby and Bear as their father fights off the villainous Wendy Wedge who wants to steal the flying shoe design from the family. The puns are truly splendid and the silly humor will entice reluctant readers to keep going.
January 13, 2021
There’s an old saying that goes something like this: You can tell a lot about a person from the shoes they’re wearing.
From the bestselling author of Tom Gates comes this brand new hilarious stand-alone novel.
We meet Ruby and Bear Foot. They are on a mission to save their inventor dad from his boss, the evil Wendy Wedge, who has been steadily taking over Shoe Town…I mean, Wedge Town. Wendy Wedge is so set on winning the prestigious Golden Shoe Award that she’ll do just about anything – and she wants Dad’s secret invention. In the adventure that follows, Ruby and Bear manage to not only save the day in the nick of time but set some endangered animals free and solve a mystery very close to their hearts, all with their animal sidekick Shoo in tow.
With her clever use of voice and varying typography, Pichon makes the whole book read like a child telling you a story, making Shoe Wars relatable to even the most reluctant reader. This book offers a light romp for kids to whiz through, and Pichon’s accompanying doodles make it all the more fun.
I was most impressed by the number of serious issues Pichon managed to introduce to her audience without ever flattening the momentum with didactics. She teaches her readers that keeping endangered animals in captivity is bad, that keeping small businesses afloat is better than seeing them taken over by large companies and she even touches lightly on tax evasion! All this and at no time does the story feel clunky or overfilled. It is fast-paced from tip to toe and hilarious every step of the way.
The one thing children may find confusing is Pichon’s switching between referring to Ruby and Bear’s father as ‘Dad’ and ‘Ivor’ in the same dialogue, giving the effect of two separate characters in a conversation. Pichon perhaps did this to remind her readers what ‘Dad’s’ name is for when she would have to refer to him by name, though this might have been otherwise achieved less confusingly.
Kids of ages 7 to 12 (and their parents!) will enjoy this book excessively. Another great publication by one of Briton’s most successful authors.
From the bestselling author of Tom Gates comes this brand new hilarious stand-alone novel.
We meet Ruby and Bear Foot. They are on a mission to save their inventor dad from his boss, the evil Wendy Wedge, who has been steadily taking over Shoe Town…I mean, Wedge Town. Wendy Wedge is so set on winning the prestigious Golden Shoe Award that she’ll do just about anything – and she wants Dad’s secret invention. In the adventure that follows, Ruby and Bear manage to not only save the day in the nick of time but set some endangered animals free and solve a mystery very close to their hearts, all with their animal sidekick Shoo in tow.
With her clever use of voice and varying typography, Pichon makes the whole book read like a child telling you a story, making Shoe Wars relatable to even the most reluctant reader. This book offers a light romp for kids to whiz through, and Pichon’s accompanying doodles make it all the more fun.
I was most impressed by the number of serious issues Pichon managed to introduce to her audience without ever flattening the momentum with didactics. She teaches her readers that keeping endangered animals in captivity is bad, that keeping small businesses afloat is better than seeing them taken over by large companies and she even touches lightly on tax evasion! All this and at no time does the story feel clunky or overfilled. It is fast-paced from tip to toe and hilarious every step of the way.
The one thing children may find confusing is Pichon’s switching between referring to Ruby and Bear’s father as ‘Dad’ and ‘Ivor’ in the same dialogue, giving the effect of two separate characters in a conversation. Pichon perhaps did this to remind her readers what ‘Dad’s’ name is for when she would have to refer to him by name, though this might have been otherwise achieved less confusingly.
Kids of ages 7 to 12 (and their parents!) will enjoy this book excessively. Another great publication by one of Briton’s most successful authors.
March 6, 2021
Not impressed. I even regret buying it ☹
February 16, 2021
Shoe Wars, Liz Pichon's latest stand-alone book, tells the story of Ruby and Bear. Their dad, who works under the notorious Wendy Wedge, invented flying shoes, a guarantee to winning the annual Golden Shoe Award. Sadly, Wendy Wedge will do anything to get her hands on the shoes. Ruby and Bear must work together to protect their dad and retain the shoes before it's too late! Time for SHOE WARS >:)
I have never read any of Pichon's works. It's a first for me.
I loved how interactive the adventures Ruby and Bear had. The art style had that just-right feeling. Something about it brought me nostalgia from reading Roald Dahl books. I would say it's a lot like Big Nate and Diary Of A Wimpy Kid. It has illustrations throughout, but it's no children's book.
Teenagers can also be able to consume this book without it being too easy. I think that's what I liked most about this book; it wasn't too easy nor hard.
All in all, I highly recommend this book. I give five stars for the humor, the story, the characters, and the illustrations.
I have never read any of Pichon's works. It's a first for me.
I loved how interactive the adventures Ruby and Bear had. The art style had that just-right feeling. Something about it brought me nostalgia from reading Roald Dahl books. I would say it's a lot like Big Nate and Diary Of A Wimpy Kid. It has illustrations throughout, but it's no children's book.
Teenagers can also be able to consume this book without it being too easy. I think that's what I liked most about this book; it wasn't too easy nor hard.
All in all, I highly recommend this book. I give five stars for the humor, the story, the characters, and the illustrations.
April 15, 2021
What. A. Blast.
Written in a format that’s appealing to any reader, the word sizes in this small town shoe mystery vary and jump off the pages. The illustrations add so much to the story, and all of the shoe-related concepts thrown in are a ball of fun. There are “foot notes” - legit feet with little footnotes! Each chapter change is noted by a change in shoe size, too.
And sushi shoes & fuzzy, cozy, illegal slippers? Love. It. All!!!
Written in a format that’s appealing to any reader, the word sizes in this small town shoe mystery vary and jump off the pages. The illustrations add so much to the story, and all of the shoe-related concepts thrown in are a ball of fun. There are “foot notes” - legit feet with little footnotes! Each chapter change is noted by a change in shoe size, too.
And sushi shoes & fuzzy, cozy, illegal slippers? Love. It. All!!!
February 23, 2021
My 9 year old daughter read this book and really enjoyed it and now wants to read more books by Liz Pichon.
You read of an adventure that Rub and Bear go on where his father invents flying shoes. They battle Wendy Wedge and a bully over the shoes.
This is a great middle grade fiction story and there are good illustrations in the book.
Overall my daughter gave this a 4.5 stars!
You read of an adventure that Rub and Bear go on where his father invents flying shoes. They battle Wendy Wedge and a bully over the shoes.
This is a great middle grade fiction story and there are good illustrations in the book.
Overall my daughter gave this a 4.5 stars!
July 24, 2021
This book is absolutely amazing. I like the cleverness of using shoes to create the names and places. I just couldn't stop reading it.
November 12, 2020
Not Liz Pichons best work but defiantly a book worth reading. This book is full of shoetastic things like: flying shoes, evil villains and plots that will defiantly put a smile on your face. I would recommend this book for 7-11 year olds!
May 7, 2023
It was really fun and I loved to read this book!
I’ve read it over and over again and me and my family all love it. Not only is it a family friendly book it is suitable for lots of ages!
I’ve read it over and over again and me and my family all love it. Not only is it a family friendly book it is suitable for lots of ages!
May 7, 2023
I got into it easily and I loved to find out what happens in the next chapter
So easy to get into and I read it about a billion times!!!
So easy to get into and I read it about a billion times!!!
March 3, 2021
Ruby and Bear Foot live with their father Ivor, who makes shoes. He works for Wendy Wedge. Almost everyone in Shoetown works for Wendy Wedge. She has a giant factory where she makes wedge shoes. Because she has so much power in town, she was able to close almost all the other shoe stores and has made almost all of the shoemakers work for her. She makes all the schoolchildren wear her wedges, which aren’t very comfortable and make it hard for them to run and play.
Every year, all the shoemakers get together for The Golden Shoe Awards. Wendy Wedge tries to win it every year, but she never does. She thinks that if she could just invent flying shoes (or if one of the shoemakers working for her would invent flying shoes, those would be hers too), then she could win The Golden Shoe Awards. But none of the shoemakers have been able to make flying shoes.
Or have they?
One night, Ruby is awakened to strange sounds coming from her father’s workshop. She goes to see what’s making the noise, and she sees her father flying in the air. He has flying shoes! Ruby thinks they’re amazing and is about to say something to her father when she hears him tell the cat that Ruby and Bear can never know about the flying shoes.
Especially since, if Wendy Wedge finds them, she will steal them for herself, win The Golden Shoe Award, and take over all the shoe stores, making all the shoemakers work for her in every town. Wendy Wedge getting her hands on those flying shoes would be the worst thing ever.
Which is why Ruby and Bear and Ivor and their friends have to stop Wendy Wedge, once and for all.
Shoe Wars is Liz Pichon’s newest adventure in middle grade fiction. As writer and illustrator of Shoe Wars, she brings all the characters to life with playful whimsy and inventive storytelling. With clever touches like the *Foot notes, and lively designs that combine the art and the type in eye-catching styles, Pichon’s work can keep the attention of middle graders (or adults with distraction issues, which I certainly wouldn’t know anything about).
I loved Shoe Wars. It is an adorable story told with wit, creativity, energy, and fun. It’s reading at its best for kids and for kids at heart. I definitely recommend you buy this one for your kids (and read it yourself before handing it over. It reminds you of what being a kid is all about!).
Galleys for Shoe Wars were provided by Scholastic Press, with many thanks.
Every year, all the shoemakers get together for The Golden Shoe Awards. Wendy Wedge tries to win it every year, but she never does. She thinks that if she could just invent flying shoes (or if one of the shoemakers working for her would invent flying shoes, those would be hers too), then she could win The Golden Shoe Awards. But none of the shoemakers have been able to make flying shoes.
Or have they?
One night, Ruby is awakened to strange sounds coming from her father’s workshop. She goes to see what’s making the noise, and she sees her father flying in the air. He has flying shoes! Ruby thinks they’re amazing and is about to say something to her father when she hears him tell the cat that Ruby and Bear can never know about the flying shoes.
Especially since, if Wendy Wedge finds them, she will steal them for herself, win The Golden Shoe Award, and take over all the shoe stores, making all the shoemakers work for her in every town. Wendy Wedge getting her hands on those flying shoes would be the worst thing ever.
Which is why Ruby and Bear and Ivor and their friends have to stop Wendy Wedge, once and for all.
Shoe Wars is Liz Pichon’s newest adventure in middle grade fiction. As writer and illustrator of Shoe Wars, she brings all the characters to life with playful whimsy and inventive storytelling. With clever touches like the *Foot notes, and lively designs that combine the art and the type in eye-catching styles, Pichon’s work can keep the attention of middle graders (or adults with distraction issues, which I certainly wouldn’t know anything about).
I loved Shoe Wars. It is an adorable story told with wit, creativity, energy, and fun. It’s reading at its best for kids and for kids at heart. I definitely recommend you buy this one for your kids (and read it yourself before handing it over. It reminds you of what being a kid is all about!).
Galleys for Shoe Wars were provided by Scholastic Press, with many thanks.
April 4, 2021
Strictly speaking, this story was more fun than finding your FAVORITE shoes on sale in every color of the rainbow in EXACTLY your size!
There are characters you won't soon forget, plots that are so devious you'll question giving the benefit of the doubt to everyone, creativity that will boggle your mind, and so many laughs and guffaws to be had, you'll end up with a showbox size tummy ache by book's end. Ruby and Bear are a great duo and seriously have each other's backs. Their father was some adult readers could also relate to, as was Betty, because he cared about his family and friends so much, he was willing to put his dreams and aspirations to the side to provide for them. Even with the loss of their mother (most mysteriously!), he picked up the pieces of his heart's loss and provided a good life...despite wedge shaped black hole in it. Speaking of wedges (and I'm sorry, but I definitely don't find them comfortable!), Wendy Wedge was a seriously unexpectedly dastardly baddie, and TOE-tally deserves everything she has coming...the spoils of which I shall not reveal, but trust me when I say, you'll be in awe of how far the perceived mighty fall.
One thing, I found surprising, but refreshing all the same as that the author doesn't pull any punches! There are no mysterious happy endings, no escaping by the skin of their teeth moments, and no unbelievable outcomes to some truly cringe worthy situations. If they get into trouble, in trouble they stay until they work their way out of it. If they are being followed by Mr. Creeper, then they are being followed and most definitely aren't able to shrug him off their trail (though Shoo - the cat - seriously manages some astounding feats!). If they are trying to hide something they shouldn't know, do, or have, then like most secrets...it gets out. If they are suppose to be listening to their father and staying out of trouble, then they are probably getting into it like most kids will do. The point is...as FUNtastic and punny as the story is, it still feels REAL. Sure, every page is littered with shoe puns of every sort, from images to story, names to places, heck, even the chapters aren't chapters...they're SIZES...but everyone was written with such heart, that ultimately you have a great time, while still feeling like you're stepping into some mighty powerful shoes.
**copy received for review; opinions are my own
There are characters you won't soon forget, plots that are so devious you'll question giving the benefit of the doubt to everyone, creativity that will boggle your mind, and so many laughs and guffaws to be had, you'll end up with a showbox size tummy ache by book's end. Ruby and Bear are a great duo and seriously have each other's backs. Their father was some adult readers could also relate to, as was Betty, because he cared about his family and friends so much, he was willing to put his dreams and aspirations to the side to provide for them. Even with the loss of their mother (most mysteriously!), he picked up the pieces of his heart's loss and provided a good life...despite wedge shaped black hole in it. Speaking of wedges (and I'm sorry, but I definitely don't find them comfortable!), Wendy Wedge was a seriously unexpectedly dastardly baddie, and TOE-tally deserves everything she has coming...the spoils of which I shall not reveal, but trust me when I say, you'll be in awe of how far the perceived mighty fall.
One thing, I found surprising, but refreshing all the same as that the author doesn't pull any punches! There are no mysterious happy endings, no escaping by the skin of their teeth moments, and no unbelievable outcomes to some truly cringe worthy situations. If they get into trouble, in trouble they stay until they work their way out of it. If they are being followed by Mr. Creeper, then they are being followed and most definitely aren't able to shrug him off their trail (though Shoo - the cat - seriously manages some astounding feats!). If they are trying to hide something they shouldn't know, do, or have, then like most secrets...it gets out. If they are suppose to be listening to their father and staying out of trouble, then they are probably getting into it like most kids will do. The point is...as FUNtastic and punny as the story is, it still feels REAL. Sure, every page is littered with shoe puns of every sort, from images to story, names to places, heck, even the chapters aren't chapters...they're SIZES...but everyone was written with such heart, that ultimately you have a great time, while still feeling like you're stepping into some mighty powerful shoes.
**copy received for review; opinions are my own
March 1, 2021
Shoe Wars is a strange but quirky book about two kids and their dad. They live in Shoe Town, which has been taken over by a woman named Wendy Wedge. Wendy is a nasty piece of work. She's an egomaniac who thinks she's entitled to the Golden Shoe Award, something she's never won even though she enters every year. She's also got a son named Walter, who is a giant bully. Wendy, though, makes sure Walter gets whatever he wants, whenever he wants, because he's a "genius" and is her "perfect boy." Can we say ugh?
Ivor, the dad, is a shoe inventor. He's stuck working for Wendy now because his wife died (due to a mysterious snake bite) and Wendy came along and basically manipulated him into giving up his shoe store. Blech.
Bear and Ruby (the kids), have to suffer through Walter's pranks and nonsense every day. But when they discover their dad's flying shoes and get revenge on Walter, that's when they set off a chain of events that lay out through the rest of the book.
Just how far will Wendy go to win the award? How can Ivor get out from under Wendy's rule? And what sort of hijinks will happen along the way?
I found this to be a very interesting read. It's a bit wild at times, but in a fun, crazy adventure sort of way. I really liked it.
I have to say, Wendy and Walter were awful I hated both of them immediately. It's like if Cruella de Vil was obsessed with shoes instead of Dalmatians, and he had a son, that would be Wendy Wedge.
I think my favorite character in the book was Bert. He was a good guy who refused to let Wendy get to him.
There are a lot of fun and entertaining illustrations throughout, as well, and that amde the book even more fun and enjoyable while reading.
Sometimes odd, sometimes crazy, and sometimes heartwarming, Shoe Wars has it all.
Middle-grade readers (and young-at-heart adults) will find themselves eagerly flying through the pages to see just what might happen next.
4.5 stars!
Ivor, the dad, is a shoe inventor. He's stuck working for Wendy now because his wife died (due to a mysterious snake bite) and Wendy came along and basically manipulated him into giving up his shoe store. Blech.
Bear and Ruby (the kids), have to suffer through Walter's pranks and nonsense every day. But when they discover their dad's flying shoes and get revenge on Walter, that's when they set off a chain of events that lay out through the rest of the book.
Just how far will Wendy go to win the award? How can Ivor get out from under Wendy's rule? And what sort of hijinks will happen along the way?
I found this to be a very interesting read. It's a bit wild at times, but in a fun, crazy adventure sort of way. I really liked it.
I have to say, Wendy and Walter were awful I hated both of them immediately. It's like if Cruella de Vil was obsessed with shoes instead of Dalmatians, and he had a son, that would be Wendy Wedge.
I think my favorite character in the book was Bert. He was a good guy who refused to let Wendy get to him.
There are a lot of fun and entertaining illustrations throughout, as well, and that amde the book even more fun and enjoyable while reading.
Sometimes odd, sometimes crazy, and sometimes heartwarming, Shoe Wars has it all.
Middle-grade readers (and young-at-heart adults) will find themselves eagerly flying through the pages to see just what might happen next.
4.5 stars!
February 7, 2021
Shoe Wars by Lix Pichon
Welcome to Shoe Town
Meet Ruby and Bear. Their dad has just invented the most amazing thing ever -- flying shoes! But his horrible boss Wendy Wedge knows that entering flying shoes will guarantee the Golden Shoe Award, and she will do anything to win the trophy.
Ruby and Bear must outwit a bully, infiltrate a shady company, and rescue their dad all while keeping the shoes hidden. This can only mean one thing. It's . . . shoe wars!
My daughters have come to that wonderful age where they can enjoy a chapter book being read to them at bedtime. I have looked forward to this for years. We have read and loved the majority of the Tom Gates series, and are all huge fans, so I figured Shoe Wars was going to be a hit.
The girls loved it, they begged for an extra chapter each night, and not just to put off going to sleep… there were some great cliffhangers and I often agreed. We all enjoyed the whimsical sketches, true to Liz Pichon’s artistic style and the plot was clever and not as transparent as you’d expect from a children's book.
My daughters loved to hate Wendy Wedge, an awful dictator pf Shoe Town and a great villain along with her nasty assistant and spoilt brat of a son. The writing is wonderfully paced, similar to Tom Gates book, making it an easy read for even the most tired of parent. My only complaint and I even feel silly complaining about it, were the names, I found the shoe references in every name more irksome than entertaining, but the girls didn’t seem to feel the same.
Overall, it’s a great bedtime book and if you're a fan of Tom Gates, you’ll definitely enjoy this story of high tech shoes, heroism and family. I have a feeling there will be more to come in this series.
February 18, 2021
Even the reluctant reader is bound to be drawn in by the use of lots of white space and illustrations. There’s never the feeling of being overwhelmed by too many words on a page.
And here’s the good thing, even if you’re not a fan of shoes or wars, this story is bound to cause you to flip-flop and change your mind. (Okay, the book made me do that!) You’ll even love the footnotes that are cleverly added to various pages.
Liz Pichon’s imagination and creativeness bring us a story about right and wrong, good and evil. On the good side, we have Ruby and Bear Foot, children of Ivor, whose wife Sally died in a mysterious accident. The Foot family is trying to keep a particular shoe that Sally created before her death hidden.
On the not-so-good side, we have Wendy Wedge and her spoiled rotten son, Walter. Wendy owns the biggest factory in town. She has recently taken over Ivor’s factory and if she has her way she will take over every shoe factory in town. But for now, she will settle with locating the Flying shoes that she knows Sally created. With those shoes, she’s sure to win the Golden Shoe Award.
And with that, the war is on.
These pages are filled with various fonts, text sizes, cartoon figures, and illustrations that will make this a delight for middle-graders.
What Concerned Me
As much as I enjoyed this story and the way it was presented, it felt too long. In time I began to lose interest in the story, footnotes, and the fun play on names.
My Final Thoughts
I’m anxious to see some “real” feedback. And that would have to come from kids. But meanwhile, I enjoyed it, even with it being a bit long, it was good.
My thanks to Rockstar Book Tours and the author for a copy of this story and the ability to post my opinion.
And here’s the good thing, even if you’re not a fan of shoes or wars, this story is bound to cause you to flip-flop and change your mind. (Okay, the book made me do that!) You’ll even love the footnotes that are cleverly added to various pages.
Liz Pichon’s imagination and creativeness bring us a story about right and wrong, good and evil. On the good side, we have Ruby and Bear Foot, children of Ivor, whose wife Sally died in a mysterious accident. The Foot family is trying to keep a particular shoe that Sally created before her death hidden.
On the not-so-good side, we have Wendy Wedge and her spoiled rotten son, Walter. Wendy owns the biggest factory in town. She has recently taken over Ivor’s factory and if she has her way she will take over every shoe factory in town. But for now, she will settle with locating the Flying shoes that she knows Sally created. With those shoes, she’s sure to win the Golden Shoe Award.
And with that, the war is on.
These pages are filled with various fonts, text sizes, cartoon figures, and illustrations that will make this a delight for middle-graders.
What Concerned Me
As much as I enjoyed this story and the way it was presented, it felt too long. In time I began to lose interest in the story, footnotes, and the fun play on names.
My Final Thoughts
I’m anxious to see some “real” feedback. And that would have to come from kids. But meanwhile, I enjoyed it, even with it being a bit long, it was good.
My thanks to Rockstar Book Tours and the author for a copy of this story and the ability to post my opinion.
February 17, 2021
SHOE WARS is a silly fun middle grade read that is somewhere between a graphic novel and chapter book. The story follows the siblings, Ruby and Bear, whose parents were in the shoe selling business until their mother died and the shoe giant, Wendy Wedge, swept in and bought them out. Their dad took their mother's designs and original shoes with him, but he knows Wendy would do anything to get her hands on them.
Late one night, Ruby overhears her father and his flying shoes that could win big shoe inventor awards - ones Wendy would do anything sinister to win. When she uses them to get back at Wendy's nasty son, the secret is out and Wendy has narrowed her evil gaze onto the family.
What I loved: This is a silly fun read that has plenty of giggles, a cartoonish villain, and all manner of shoe puns. The illustrations throughout make for never a dull moment, with illustrations on every page, and often several on a page. The characters really come to life through the art. The shoe puns are numerous and impressive. I particularly enjoyed the "foot notes" (get it?).
The story is really just filly and brings plenty of giggles with great siblings, enemies that are easy to dislike, and all the intrigue of the intense shoe selling world. The two siblings must work together to save their father from Wendy and keep the shoes safe, and this was a lot of fun.
Final verdict: Ridiculous and charming, SHOE WARS is a light-hearted and delightfully illustrated middle grade book that would be great for reluctant readers and early chapter book readers.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Late one night, Ruby overhears her father and his flying shoes that could win big shoe inventor awards - ones Wendy would do anything sinister to win. When she uses them to get back at Wendy's nasty son, the secret is out and Wendy has narrowed her evil gaze onto the family.
What I loved: This is a silly fun read that has plenty of giggles, a cartoonish villain, and all manner of shoe puns. The illustrations throughout make for never a dull moment, with illustrations on every page, and often several on a page. The characters really come to life through the art. The shoe puns are numerous and impressive. I particularly enjoyed the "foot notes" (get it?).
The story is really just filly and brings plenty of giggles with great siblings, enemies that are easy to dislike, and all the intrigue of the intense shoe selling world. The two siblings must work together to save their father from Wendy and keep the shoes safe, and this was a lot of fun.
Final verdict: Ridiculous and charming, SHOE WARS is a light-hearted and delightfully illustrated middle grade book that would be great for reluctant readers and early chapter book readers.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
March 2, 2021
This book is packed full of action and creative language! It's a mix of a graphic novel and chapter book and perfect for 3rd to 5th grade students. The illustrations are entertaining and fit perfectly with the text. I'd highly recommend it to readers who love Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Last Kids on Earth.
Synopsis: Ruby and Bear's dad has just invented flying shoes which will be a sure winner for this year's Golden Shoe Award; however, his evil boss, Wendy Wedge, finds out about the shoes and is determined to steal them and win the prize for herself. Secrets, tricks and surprises lead to the Shoe Wars as the families, friends and coworkers battle to get and keep hold of the amazing flying shoes.
I loved the creativity of this book and the style of writing is perfect for middle grade readers. The only thing that bothered me was the number of words that were in all capital letters. I felt like it was overdone and it forced me to read some words/sentences in ways that didn't make sense with what was going on in the story. Overall, a cute, action-packed story that upper elementary students will love!
Synopsis: Ruby and Bear's dad has just invented flying shoes which will be a sure winner for this year's Golden Shoe Award; however, his evil boss, Wendy Wedge, finds out about the shoes and is determined to steal them and win the prize for herself. Secrets, tricks and surprises lead to the Shoe Wars as the families, friends and coworkers battle to get and keep hold of the amazing flying shoes.
I loved the creativity of this book and the style of writing is perfect for middle grade readers. The only thing that bothered me was the number of words that were in all capital letters. I felt like it was overdone and it forced me to read some words/sentences in ways that didn't make sense with what was going on in the story. Overall, a cute, action-packed story that upper elementary students will love!
February 25, 2021
Ruby and Bear thought they knew everything about their dad until they found out their dad invented the coolest thing ever. He created the first pair of flying shoes. His horrid boss, Wendy Wedge, wants his invention for herself and is willing to stop at nothing to get what she wants. Wendy is desperate to win the Golden Shoe award even if she has to kidnap a person! Ruby and Bear will have to work together to outsmart Wendy, help their dad, and keep the shoes hidden.
The book was a fun and enjoyable read. It was filled with clever puns and witty jokes. The illustrations were a fun and delightful. This book is perfect for young readers to like to read funny books about friendship, doing the right thing, and defeating the "bad" guy.
The book was a fun and enjoyable read. It was filled with clever puns and witty jokes. The illustrations were a fun and delightful. This book is perfect for young readers to like to read funny books about friendship, doing the right thing, and defeating the "bad" guy.
February 26, 2021
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. The back cover described it as a “laugh-out-loud spectacular” story. And it did not disappoint. Full of shoe puns and crazy situations, it centers around the upcoming Golden Shoe Awards. The Foot family must battle the evil Wendy Wedge, owner of the town shoe factory in their quest to win with the flying shoes the kids’ mother designed before her death and Ivor, the father secretly perfected. The award ceremony is modeled after the Golden Globe Awards, complete with a purple carpet and two chatty so-hosts. Written in a graphic novel style with hilarious illustrations, a variety of fonts and “footnotes” with a line drawing of a foot, this story will appeal to middle-grade readers everywhere. Highly recommended.
July 26, 2021
I received an ARC from Scholastic in exchange for an honest review.
A cute story about a family who lives in a town known for its shoes. The Golden Shoe Awards is a yearly competition where people from cities over get together to show off their shoes to win. Our main antagonist is Wendy Wedge, a very rude lady who is very triangular. She steals the flying shoes from our heroes and the hunt is on to stop her!
The book is similar to a light novel in that there's comics interspersed throughout the text so the reader can follow along visually as well. It's a longer book so I would gear this one towards kids who enjoyed Captain Underpants and Dogman but have aged out. Great for reluctant readers because of the visual element.
A cute story about a family who lives in a town known for its shoes. The Golden Shoe Awards is a yearly competition where people from cities over get together to show off their shoes to win. Our main antagonist is Wendy Wedge, a very rude lady who is very triangular. She steals the flying shoes from our heroes and the hunt is on to stop her!
The book is similar to a light novel in that there's comics interspersed throughout the text so the reader can follow along visually as well. It's a longer book so I would gear this one towards kids who enjoyed Captain Underpants and Dogman but have aged out. Great for reluctant readers because of the visual element.
July 30, 2022
I read this with my ten year old daughter, who seemed to enjoy it more than me but was left equally confused by some of the plot. I’m not really sure what age this is aimed at, but I spent a lot of time explaining different types of shoes to my daughter, to the point it became distracting from the story.
The plot wasn’t that great. I’m still confused why Wendy Wedge managed to end up in such a powerful position, why she was keeping rare insects, and how one security pass suddenly turned into two? Some sections felt rushed, and others drawn out too far, I didn’t care whether someone liked lemon curb with tinned peaches, I wanted to know how he felt about the situation he was in.
It’s fine, but not fantastic. My daughter enjoyed it, but I don’t think she found it a memorable experience.
The plot wasn’t that great. I’m still confused why Wendy Wedge managed to end up in such a powerful position, why she was keeping rare insects, and how one security pass suddenly turned into two? Some sections felt rushed, and others drawn out too far, I didn’t care whether someone liked lemon curb with tinned peaches, I wanted to know how he felt about the situation he was in.
It’s fine, but not fantastic. My daughter enjoyed it, but I don’t think she found it a memorable experience.
February 11, 2021
Shoe Wars is the first book I have read by Liz Pichon and quickly found out it will not be the last. I thought this was a fun book for all ages, especially children. It is quirky and full of laughs, as well as, some good lessons for all of us to learn. I thought it was great.
I am giving Shoe Wars five stars. I recommend it for readers who are between the ages of eight and twelve. I would love to read more by Liz Pichon in the future.
I received Shoe Wars from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
I am giving Shoe Wars five stars. I recommend it for readers who are between the ages of eight and twelve. I would love to read more by Liz Pichon in the future.
I received Shoe Wars from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
January 2, 2022
This is, without any doubt, one of the funniest books I have ever read!
I have never read a Tom Gates book before, so I wasn't very familiar with Liz Pichon's writing style.
I loved it! I thought it was so cool for young readers that I wished I had read them when I was a young girl!
Not only I found the story quite touching despite the fun elements, but I also enjoyed the Foot's family relationship and how close they were!
I liked the illustrations, the several shoe designs throughout the book and how fun and messy the end got!
A very fun read! 4.5/5⭐
I have never read a Tom Gates book before, so I wasn't very familiar with Liz Pichon's writing style.
I loved it! I thought it was so cool for young readers that I wished I had read them when I was a young girl!
Not only I found the story quite touching despite the fun elements, but I also enjoyed the Foot's family relationship and how close they were!
I liked the illustrations, the several shoe designs throughout the book and how fun and messy the end got!
A very fun read! 4.5/5⭐
February 28, 2021
Ruby and Bear, two siblings, must help their father, who has invented flying shoes, by protecting them from Wendy Wedge who wants them to win the Golden Shoe Award.
The plot is well structured and funny with illustrations to bring every moment of the plot alive. Like the Tom Gates books, it also follows rivalry between the two siblings. Ideal for readers who loved books and authors like Tom Gates, Roald Dahl etc.
The plot is well structured and funny with illustrations to bring every moment of the plot alive. Like the Tom Gates books, it also follows rivalry between the two siblings. Ideal for readers who loved books and authors like Tom Gates, Roald Dahl etc.
November 27, 2020
A brand-new story from the creator of Tom Gates: Ruby and Bear Foot live in Shoe Town with their Dad. When his evil boss, Wendy Wedge, catches wind of his amazing flying shoes she is determined to steal the shoes and win the Golden Shoe Award. Can Bear and Ruby rescue their Dad and foil Wendy's plans? Shoe Wars is a madcap, page-turning, adventure filled with hilarious shoe puns.
December 23, 2020
A cleverly written story about a family who fight the nasty Wendy Wedge to stop her from winning the 'Golden Shoe Award' which is rightfully theirs. Loved how all the characters had shoe names! Liz Pichon has an amazing imagination when it comes to shoe inventions - I imagine my class would love to come up with some more for the 'Foot' family to invent.
January 5, 2021
Shoe-tastic
SHOE WARS is an amazing book ,at first I thought that Ruby and Bear would not be able to come to the contest but I was wrong they made it in the end. But there is one problem, a page din't load. Only one page though so it's OK (Plus my name is Rishi and I am 8 years old)
SHOE WARS is an amazing book ,at first I thought that Ruby and Bear would not be able to come to the contest but I was wrong they made it in the end. But there is one problem, a page din't load. Only one page though so it's OK (Plus my name is Rishi and I am 8 years old)
February 28, 2021
Shoe Wars is an exciting and fun read with lots of puns and plot twists. It is also enjoyable to look at because the footnotes have cartoons of real feet, the font changes according to voice and intensity, the chapters are identified as shoe sizes, and the characters' cartoon faces have great expressions.
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