Stitches & Soles

When Roemello walks into the Humble Sneaker Store, he expects nothing more than a fresh pair of shoes. What he gets is magic. These sneakers have a mind of their own, and every lace-up launches a brand-new adventure, from mischief at the zoo to a game of tag that ends on the moon.

But magic shoes come with surprises, and Roemello soon learns that the store, its mysterious owner Mr. Laces, and the shoes on its shelves hold more secrets than any kid could imagine.

Full of humor, heart, and wonder, Stitches & Soles: A New Shoe Adventure is a chapter book about friendship, imagination, and the everyday magic of being brave enough to take the first step. Each chapter is its own adventure, making it a perfect read-aloud for families and a great pick for young independent readers.

This is Book 1 of the Stitches & Soles series. The adventure continues in Book 2, The Shadow Stitchers.

Roemello thought the magic was over. The sneakers sit quietly by his bed, Mr. Laces' shop is calm, and life has finally gone back to normal. Then one morning the sneakers are back, placed with care, laces straightened, a thread of gold glinting at the heel. Someone wants him to notice.

Something is unravelling in the magical world, and Roemello and his best friend Reggie are caught in the threads. The Shadow Stitchers do not knock. They are older than memory, weavers of darkness who can stitch reality shut or tear it wide open, and they want the sneakers back. The shoes carry secrets the boys were never told, secrets powerful beings have fought to protect.

Every door leads somewhere darker. Every answer opens three new questions. The boys are older now, faster, and they have learned to trust the magic. But magic does not always choose sides, and some stitches, once pulled, can never be sewn back together.

A fast, spooky middle-grade fantasy about friendship, courage, and the threads that bind us, written for readers ages 9 to 13 who have grown up with the series. Darker in tone than Book 1.

This is Book 2 of the Stitches & Soles series.