Ellen Potter - The Gremlins Shoes

For Erica Finkel, who helped me find my way
through the cold North Woods

PUBLISHERS NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the authors imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Potter, Ellen, 1963- author. | Sala, Felicita, illustrator.

Title: The gremlins shoes / story by Ellen Potter ; art by Felicita Sala.

Description: New York : Amulet Books, 2021. | Series: Big Foot and Little Foot ; book 5 | Audience: Ages 6 to 9. | Summary: Determined to buy a Marvelous Monster Magnet, Hugo and Boone set out to earn the money on an adventure through the woods, where they meet some interesting new friends.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020035800 | ISBN 9781419743245 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781419743252 (paperback) | ISBN 9781683357926 (ebook)

Subjects: CYAC: Sasquatch--Fiction. | FriendshipFiction. | Moneymaking projectsFiction. | Adventure and adventurersFiction. | MonstersFiction.

Classification: LCC PZ7.P8518 Gre 2021 | DDC [E]dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020035800

Text 2021 Ellen Potter
Illustrations 2021 Felicita Sala
Book design by Brenda E. Angelilli

Published in 2021 by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

Amulet Books are available at special discounts when purchased in quantity for premiums and promotions as well as fundraising or educational use. Special editions can also be created to specification. For details, contact specialsales@abramsbooks.com or the address below.

Amulet Books is a registered trademark of Harry N. Abrams, Inc.

ABRAMS The Art of Books
195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
abramsbooks.com

The Big Foot and Little Foot series

Book One: Big Foot and Little Foot

Book Two: The Monster Detector

Book Three: The Squatchicorns

Book Four: The Bog Beast

Book Five: The Gremlins Shoes

Deep in the cold North Woods, there lived a young Sasquatch named Hugo. He was bigger than you but smaller than me, and he was hairier than both of us. He lived in apartment 1G in the very back of Widdershins Cavern with his mother and father and his older sister, Winnie.

It was Saturday, so there was no school. Hugo and his best friend, Boone, sat on the floor of Hugos bedroom, dipping their fingers into the little stream that ran through the room. Tiny silver fish swam in the stream. Boone and Hugo made their hands into tunnels for the fish to swim through.

So, what do you want to do today? Boone asked Hugo for the fifth time that morning.

I dont know. What do you want to do today? Hugo replied, also for the fifth time.

I dont know, said Boone.

Hugo and Boone had a bad case of Nothing-to-do-itis. Youve probably had Nothing-to-do-itis once or twice in your life, too. Its when you suddenly have loads of free time, but you cant think of a single thing to do with it.

Are those new shoes? Hugo asked Boone.

Boone nodded and looked proudly at his red sneakers with black stripes and yellow laces. The old ones were getting too small.

Hugo didnt have to wear shoes. Sasquatches have tough padding on the soles of their feet so they can walk barefoot. Still, Hugo thought it might be fun to wear red sneakers with black stripes and yellow laces.

Right then, he made a mental list of Reasons Why It Would Be Fun to Be a Human. Sneakers was number one on the list.

Grandma told me that if my feet keep growing so fast, Boone said, theyll be as big as a Sasquatchs in no time.

He placed his foot next to Hugos foot to compare. Boones foot was only half as big as Hugos. But because Hugo didnt want to discourage Boone, he replied, Bigger, maybe.

They were quiet for a moment. Then Boone asked for the sixth time, So, what do you want to do today?

Hugo was about to reply I dont know again when suddenly, he did have an idea.

We could go to Uncle Figgys Toy Store, he suggested.

Yes! Thats exactly what we should do! Boone said, jumping to his feet.

And just like that, their case of Nothing-to-do-itis was cured.

They headed out the door and down the winding passageways to Uncle Figgys Toy Store. Like all the other shops in Widdershins Cavern, it was in the busy Central Cave District.

Hugo and Boone walked past the barbershop first. Sasquatch hair grows very fast, so there were always lots of Sasquatches in the barbershop waiting for a trim. Some of them wanted fancy hairdos, too. Today, Hugo and Boone spotted Mrs. Rattlebags sitting in a chair and having all her hair put in curlers.

Next they passed the Everything-You-Need General Store and Bakery. That was the store Hugos parents owned. Hugo and Boone waved at Hugos dad, who was behind the checkout counter, and he smiled and waved back.

Up ahead was Uncle Figgys Toy Store. The toy store was always a popular place to be on Saturday, but today it was packed with squidges (which is what you call young Sasquatches).

The store must have gotten some really great new toy, Hugo said.

Look, theres Gigi. Boone pointed to a small squidge with glasses who was standing outside the toy store.

Gigi! Hugo and Boone called to her.

Gigi turned around and, looking a little embarrassed, waited for them to come over.

Whats happening? asked Hugo.

Thats happening, Gigi said, pointing to a sign outside the store.

Mad Marvin! Hugo and Boone cried at the same time.

Mad Marvin was a celebrity! All the squidges in the cavern collected Mad Marvins Monster Cards. They were trading cards that featured different monsters, like Fuzzy Ogres and Giant Armored Worms. Hugo had collected one hundred packs of them.