The Copper-Toed Shoes    by Sandra Rissler Order:  USA  Can Authorhouse, 2005 (2005) Softcover     Reviewed by J. A. Kaszuba Locke Do you ever wonder why you have unexplainable black and blue marks on your arms? Well, now you have someone to blame ... 'Gertie did it!' Gertie is described as 'six-inches tall, a gray-haired little old lady, with a red, white polka dot dress, purple shawl, and smoky blue glasses, wearing copper-toed shoes.' So writes Sandra Rissler in her debut children's book, The Copper-Toed Shoes. Seven-year old Melissa Joy awakes one morning with sore arms, and ponders how to explain the bruises to her sister Betty. Sure enough, Betty asks, 'where did you get all those black and blue marks?' But Mom and Betty always scold Melissa for making up stories. Gertie comes to Melissa's bed at night prepared to play a game of 'Slides and Steps'. Sassy Gertie uses her powers to shrink Melissa to six inches tall, and turns the bed quilt into a game board - 'Ready--Set--GO!' Read and play with Gertie and Melissa as they climb steps, and travel downward on the slide. They just might invite you to their tea party. Sandra Rissler's inspiration for her story came from her Grandmother Christie, who died at the age of 99, and regularly told her grandchildren about 'a little old lady ... who came to her bed during the night and kicked her with copper-toed shoes'. The story, accompanied by charming, colorful, hand-drawn illustrations, is perfect for beginner readers. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews