A story inspired by a father’s remembrance of farm life as a child growing up in the 1930s: Join the adventures.
Just Look at Those Boots
“A Lesson in Responsibility and Understanding of Others”
Celebrating life on a small farm during the 1930s, Just Look at Those Boots, in partnership with the BookEnds Reader Community.
The Hard Work of Another Era
Lessons of responsibility, resolving conflict through dialogue, and life on a small farm of
the 1930s.
It’s the beginning of the third grade for A.J. and he has new boots. But these boots are
for special events. His mother allows his to wear them this one day to school. This new
school year begins with A.J. deciding to be braver and deal with Elijah, the class bully in a better way.
Daily Life: Each day there are chores in the morning before school that need to be
completed. Once A.J. comes home from school, there are more chores that need to be taken care of before dinner.
The Problem: Elijah Remington, the class bully, enjoys teasing A.J. and his friend Benji. Once home, Lady Star, A.J.’s horse, creates troubles.
The Stakes: A.J. wants this school year to go better than other years. To do that he will need to be braver and learn to deal with Elijah. At the same time, He learns to balance farm life, school, school work, and a cantankerous horse.
“Realistic themes of responsibility, family bonding, bullying, perseverance, and resilience are woven throughout.”-SReady, Reviewer
The Visual Deployment Gallery
As we prepare for our upcoming reading cycle, we are pleased to share a collection of visual frames that capture A.J. adventures through his day. These visual frames provide a bridge between the written word and A.J.’s world in the 1930s. By exploring these snapshots, our community can better visualize the setting of what’s happening and the resilience that is a part of the story. You are invited to view these frames as a prelude to our deep dive discussion.
The Cinematic Showcase
At the heart of our community, we look for stories that speaks about survival and the strength of the human spirit. Just Look at Those Boots reminds of us no matter the time, each of has a quiet resilience. A cinematic preview that helps capture the essence of the story. You are invited to watch, reflect, and discover the strength shown by A.J. within these chapters before we begin our collective discussion.
Where Story Meets Community
A Mission Briefing for the BookEnds Reader Community
Bringing the magnitude of mercy to North Little Rock. Great Stories shouldn’t be read in a vacuum. The Just Look at Those Boots narrative thrives on the connection of young people today and growing up in the 1930s on a small farm. This book represents stories inspired and passed down from one generation to another to share with all. Whether you are a long-time student of family legacy or a newcomer looking for a meaningful discussion, we are building a bridge between historical resilience and local, deep dive reflection. This collaboration is about celebrating the survival of the 1930s small town farming community while foster the community spirit of today through understanding of others, learning what the human spirit can accomplish.
Inside the Briefing Room: Discussion Prompts
When we get together for our live session, we don’t just talk about “what happened” we look under the hood. Here are a few topics we will be exploring:
The Importance of Being Your Own Person: Why was it important to A.J. that everyone used his initials as his “nickname” instead of calling him by his first name? How did he show his bravery? How did A.J. handle the school bully?
Legacy of Farm Life in the 1930s: In a world that will often ask much of each of us, why is it important to learn the stories of our ancestors’ survival during difficulty times? How does handling difficulties of one era influence how we handle today’s challenges?
The Resilience of a Child: A.J. is a third grader navigating the world of farm life and school. How does his perspective change as he works through responsibilities and enjoying life?
Family Legacy vs. Individual Choice: Just Look at Those Boots represent a generation that experienced hardship. Does learning about the hardships of one generation influence future generations or do we have choice in how we handle hardships in the future?
Join the Community: BookEnds
Your Local Portal to Resilience and Legacy
Who We Are. We are a community of readers and families based right here in the North Little Rock area. BookEnds is not just a reading group; it is a gathering of over 800 families dedicated to exploring the soul and survival of the human experience. From the quiet magnitude of an anonymous deed to the enduring strength of a family legacy, we believe that the best part of any story is the conversation it sparks across generations.
All Stories. All Readers. While we are currently diving deep into the historical heart and
resilience of Sherry Roberts’ work, our community is a big tent. Whether you are a
devotee of historical fiction, a seeker of inspiring memoirs, or a fan of intergenerational sagas, you have a seat at our table. We foster a space where the wisdom of the past meets the curiosity of the future.
Meet the Author
Sherry Roberts
Sherry Roberts holds a Ph.D. from the University of Louisville in Curriculum and Instruction. She is an award-winning author and photographer of children’s picture books: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas…A First for Gus; Hello, Can I Bug You?; Sonnet, Sonnet, What’s In Your Bonnet?, The Best Reading Buddy; What’s Wrong With Barnaby?, A Visit Through the Wetlands, and Amica Helps Zoe. Dr. Roberts has a three-book middle grade series. Book one, The Galaxy According to Cece, began the series. Book two, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Mysterious Dr. Pruitt arrived next, followed by book three, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Stars Align.
Sherry’s debut chapter book series is inspired by stories of her father’s childhood and life in the 1930s and 40s on a small farm in Northeastern Oklahoma. It begins with Just Call Me Pardner. The second book, Just Look at Those Boots, launched March 2026 and book three, Just Don’t Give A Girl A Frog, is coming in late 2026. Each book can stand alone in this series.
The Connection: Each book that is written by Sherry holds a piece of her life, family, or passion. As her father began to share more and more stories of his life in the 1930s and 40s, she understood the importance of sharing a legacy and lessons from those times with others.
The Narrative: Sherry Roberts weaves a heartfelt story that reflects a time when responsibility, family bonds, bullying, perseverance, resilience, and balancing farm life are woven throughout life.
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What the Community is Saying:
“The follow-up to 2025’s Just Call Me Pardner (the second in a series about A.J.), this book offers an evocative glimpse of 1930s life and shines brightest in its warm, detailed portrayal of A.J’s daily responsibilities, as well as his relationships with Jon, his mother, and Lady Star. A warm, engaging story that will give young readers a detailed and informative look at early-20th-century farm life.” -Kirkus Review, 2026
“Just Look At Those Boots reflects the hard work of another era and a lifestyle closer to nature. The illustrations by Victoria Marble are charming, with one per chapter highlighting a key learning moment. Another aspect I liked was that the narrative is from A.J.'s point of view, which makes the story more enjoyable. This allows readers to relate more closely to the characters and understand the message more clearly. … Sherry Roberts' writing style because the ideas are clear and easy to follow. Her story is dynamic. A.J. faces challenges throughout the day and meets them with determination and a willingness to learn.”-Readers’ Favorite, 2026
“As a former middle school and elementary teacher, I found the story moved at a good pace. Realistic themes of responsibility, family bonding, bullying, perseverance, and resilience are woven throughout. There are so many elements in this story that lend themselves to classroom discussion. It's the perfect read-aloud. The book's vocabulary was age-appropriate and served as a good introduction for readers moving from picture books to early chapter books. A.J.'s daily life offers life lessons young readers can relate to. Victoria Marble's illustrations perfectly complemented the storyline, with one picture per chapter that highlighted a learning moment for A.J.’ -SReady, 2026
“Another fabulous book about the farm life and school life of A.J. We dive into his day. It’s the first day of school and last year’s bully is up to his old tricks—but A.J. isn’t the same. He grows and changes. He’s still not perfect but he learns how to look at the positive. A wonderful heartwarming book that shows the reality of life for even children on the heels of the Great Depression.” -CColeman, 2026
Choose Your Path for
Just Look at Those Boots
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Ready to dive into the heart of this generational story? Whether you want to read the narrative or in the local discussion in North Little Rock, Your journey starts here.
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Just Look at Those Boots (Main Selection)/ The Dust Bowl (Background)