Where do flip flops go during the winter? In Abby’s case, her beloved brown-and-pink sandals slip off her feet one fall day and fly south like a flock of Canada geese. Abby misses her sandals and imagines them on a beach somewhere far away, playing volleyball, lazing in the sun, and strumming a ukulele next to a late-night bonfire. “Thought about your heels today. We miss you to the bottom of our soles,” they write in a postcard.

Abby’s mother, however, is relieved that the worn-out sandals are gone just in time for a new pair of winter boots. Similarly, parents will appreciate A Flock of Shoes for helping children move on from a toy or piece of clothing they’ve grown overly attached to. As Abby soon discovers, her new boots are great for running and stomping in the snow.

Sarah Tsiang’s text may be spare, but it is descriptive and punchy, and it perfectly complements the fun watercolour illustrations by Toronto’s Qin Leng. Leng’s images bring Abby, her sandals, and her little brown puppy to life, showing the joy and frustration she feels as she moves on from one pair of shoes to the next. Whether they depict Abby playing with her parents and her puppy or a series of postcards sent by her sandals, the illustrations are detailed and delightful.

The book ends with Abby’s winter boots making their exit on a northbound train. She receives one last postcard: the boots gazing at the beautiful pinks, purples, and blues of the aurora borealis.