Customer Reviews

Those Shoes

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Everyone at school has a certain pair of shoes (Chuck Taylor style hi-cut sneakers) and Jeremy wants them too. He just can't afford them. His sneakers fall apart and he has to go to the guidance counselor's office to pick new ones from a bin - embarrassing and disappointing. He finds a pair of the coveted shoes at a thrift store and buys them although they are really too small for him and they blister his feet. After a short while he gives them to another boy in his class (whose soles of his shoes are taped together) who truly fits into them.

Empathy is the big word here. Some lucky children may not understand about the scene in the guidance counselor's office. Someone can't afford shoes? Other children will come to understand that they ar not alone in their needs.

This is a book about sharing that reaches out especially to boys! Kicks are important to them.

Everyone I have shared this book with has been touched by it. I highly recommend it for all elementary school age children.

Just about every boy at school seemed to be wearing those black high-tops with two white stripes, and Jeremy wanted a pair also. Unfortunately Grandma remained firm about only paying for needs, not wants, and Jeremy needed a new pair of winter boots. To add insult to injury, when one of Jeremy's shoes fell apart at school, the only replacement available from the guidance counselor's supply box was a pair of children's Velcro sneakers with a cartoon animal on the side. Even Jeremy's idea of buying his dream high-tops at a local thrift shop backfired when the one pair in stock fit so poorly that they hurt his feet. Little did Jeremy realize that those thrift-store high-tops held the key to a deeper understanding of generosity and friendship.

This clever book contains a powerful lesson about differentiating between wants and needs in the face of tight budget constraints. At the same time, the subtle text and expressive illustrations communicate clearly a child's desire to conform. At a time when expensive shoes have become a high-status consumption good, Those Shoes comes out a winner for telling an appealing story to which readers across age groups can relate.

I have 4 kids. The oldest three boys are 9, 6, and 4. I read this to them last night and I was really moved. We discussed the book and they really heard the message that you can't always get everything you want and that there is a very big difference between a want and a need. Being so close to Christmas it was a great conversation opener about what they want for Christmas and what they can reasonably expect. We also discussed and shared times when other people had what we wanted, times when we were envious, and also how much better it feels to be generous and kind! I struggle all the time as a parent to impress upon my children these very ideas and this book brought it home so easily! READ THIS BOOK! Also, I love how the boy lives with his grandmother but it not overemphasized and there is no discussion on why his family consists of just him and her. That is just how real life is sometimes and I appreciate that realistic fact being inserted!

I am a 2nd grade teacher and I read this story to my 2nd graders every year and it's always their favorite (and mine)! We spend several days asking questions to this story that seems very simple but provides ample topics for discussion and is a great book for teaching inferences. This is an amazing and special book for children!

This book is a great addition to any teacher's library. It teaches about needs and wants and helping others.

This is a magical book that always works for school-aged kids, even the ones that think they are too cool to have someone read to them.

When I read it to a group, I ask, "Have you ever not gotten what you wanted, even if you thought you really needed it? How did that make you feel?" Even the "privileged" kids can relate.

Without being syrupy, this is the story of a kid who is just getting by; he wants the cool shoes the other kids have and knows he can never have them. He finds them--sort of, they are too small--in a consignment shop and manages to buy them, desperate to fit in. Meanwhile, the only kid who didn't laugh at him a few days ago doesn't have any shoes, either. Without giving too much away, I'll say the story ends with compassion and dignity. It's also miraculously brief; every word is important.

Since I am a librarian, I often have parents or teachers asking me for books on friendship. I've never seen one as well-written as this, and the illustrations round out the story perfectly.

This book is great for teaching the lesson of the difference between needs and wants. It is a great read for 7 year old boy. A good book to read to or with an appropriate adult and discuss.

My son has loved his sneakers since I have known him - this story is a wonderful adaptation of the love of sneakers into a story of values and understanding. This is a great book for a little boy in your life who loves his sneakers!

The message is carried out perfectly, and made it so easy for my students to understand. Great book to introduce the topic of needs and wants/contentment.

This is a terrific book that I plan to use the first week of school with my third graders. I deal with kids from widely varied backgrounds, some quite wealthy and many whose families live from paycheck to paycheck. New clothing envy is always apparent; hopefully we can generate some good discussion after this read-aloud.