River’s excitement at learning that her favorite shoes can talk leaps off the page thanks to Jovanovic’s illustrations, often framing her in a way that makes her larger than life. Similarly, the band of boots are shown on the ground at an angle that brings their personalities to the fore, adding another layer of enchantment to the narrative. The dialogue-driven storytelling makes Dreeling’s tale a great candidate for reading aloud, and the frequent use of “wellie” is sure to stir warm laughter if only because the word is delightful—and to American ears still somewhat novel.

Simple in plot but full of heart and joy, River and the Amazing Yellow Wellie Adventure shows young readers that venturing outside of their comfort zone could result in self-discovery and a dose of enchantment. Whimsical illustrations and humorous dialogue make for an entertaining read, and could motivate readers to get outside and explore themselves. Serving as a reminder that magic lives everywhere, including where you’d least expect it, this book will appeal to both young and old readers, because adventure, like a little rain, is for everyone.

Takeaway: Rain boots on an adventure learn about themselves and the wonders of the world.

Great for fans of: Drew Daywalt’s The Day the Crayons Quit; Jory John’s The Couch Potato.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A