Those Shoes

Author: Maribeth Boelts

Illustrator: Noah Z. Jones

Publisher: Candlewick, 2009

Publisher’s recommended age: 5+

This is a heartfelt and realistic story about everyday struggles between wants and need and the power of friendship and sacrifice. Everyone at school has “those shoes” and Jeremy wants a pair too, but his family can’t afford them. Jeremy tries to wear a too-small pair he finds at a thrift shop, but he eventually gifts them to a friend. What begins as a simple story about fitting in, ends up delivering powerful lessons about yearning and disappointment, kindness and compassion, and being grateful.

Available Languages: English, Spanish, Chinese