Reviewed By Jane Finch for Readers’ Favorite

The Blue Footies is written and illustrated by Joan Dee Wilson and tells the story of a group of birds, blue-footed Boobies, who just love to hang out at the seashore, watching what is going on, and fishing in the depths for sardines. When lots of debris is left ashore by the tide, they are curious, and then see some children on the shore who gather the debris and take it away. Then one of the birds, Blue, gets tangled in some more debris, and the other birds have to find help. They then devise a way to save Blue, and repay their helpers in a way only Boobies could.

This story is told with quite sophisticated language, but it works for the target audience because the wonderful illustrations that accompany the story show the young reader exactly what is happening. There is humour, too, when the birds liken the children’s blue boots to their own blue feet, and their reaction when they find out the children can take their ‘feet’ off is really amusing. But as well as a good story and lovely artwork, there is a very topical aspect, that of debris on the beach and how it can harm wildlife. This is a book that can be discussed with a young reader and broach a number of issues, including the environment, the importance of teamwork, caring for one another, and problem solving. The author and illustrator, Joan Dee Wilson, has crafted a lovely picture book that will entrance young readers.

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Reviewed By Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite

This is a beautiful story of friendship between the birds and the children, and explores the concept of keeping the environment clean through the story. The author excels in her execution of the illustrations as well, and they convey the concept and the message effectively to readers, along with her words. It is heartwarming to see the children helping the birds, and the birds in return trying to feed them fresh sardines. The author captures the concepts of helping, friendship, and having a clean environment all together in this story by weaving them together effortlessly. It is a must-read for all youngsters as it conveys good messages to them through the story of the birds and the children.

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Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers’ Favorite

Joan Dee Wilson’s nature-based picture book for children, grades K-3, The Blue Footies, is a lovely and informative work that introduces the Blue-footed Booby and gives an accurate description of their diet and feeding techniques. Wilson’s poetry is lyrical and lovely, and her illustrations give accurate representations of these remarkable diving birds and their azure blue feet. Her illustrations show the birds mid-dive in the air, swimming with the sardines they feed upon, and perched upon the rocky ledges of the shore, and they’re all beautifully portrayed. While she uses a mostly limited palette of blues and browns, her use of color is dramatic and brings life to the story as it unfolds. While this is an ideal book for storytime in class or at home, it’s also well suited for moderately advanced young readers to try on their own. The Blue Footies is most highly recommended.

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Reviewed By Marta Tandori for Readers’ Favorite

The Blue Footies has some valuable life lessons to share with its readers. The first is about friendship. Mumford and his friends play together and feed together and when their friend, Blue gets, tangled in garbage, they are quick to to help him. Wilson also teaches little ones that when someone is in trouble and you aren’t able to help directly, it’s okay to ask for help. Without a doubt, though, the most important life lesson is that our actions have consequences. The fact is that humans litter, and that litter then washes up on shore, and creates a toxic and potentially dangerous habitat for the many birds and fish that call the ocean and shoreline their home. It’s never too early to teach youngsters about environmental responsibility and the fact that Wilson is able to do it so organically just makes for a more positive story. The author’s vivid illustrations in varying shades of blue all add to the enticing imagery of the ocean’s beauty. Each of the images effortlessly conveys movement and complements the narrative nicely. With colorful illustrations and a story with a positive message, there is much to love about The Blue Footies for both young and old alike.