Reviewed by Eden Grey
Review Source: Reading Is Resistance
Book Author: Maribeth Boelts
Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts is a sweet and touching story that addresses issues of social justice, empathy, generosity, and selflessness through the eyes of a young boy named Jeremy and his pursuit of a new pair of shoes. After his sneakers fall apart at school one day, Jeremy is mortified and disappointed by the replacement pair he receives from the lost-and-found. He sees more and more kids coming to school with the trendy new high-tops he wants so badly, and he wishes his grandma had bought him new sneakers instead of the snow boots in his closet. Continue reading on Reading Is Resistance.
A Spanish edition is available: Esos zapatos
Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts
Published by Candlewick Press on October 11, 2016
Genres: Economic Class
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Grade K, Grades 1-2
ISBN: 9780763691486
Review Source: Reading Is Resistance
Also by this author: A Bike Like Sergio's
Publisher's Synopsis: But all the kids are wearing them! Any child who has ever craved something out of reach will relate to this warm, refreshingly realistic story.
"I have dreams about those shoes. Black high-tops. Two white stripes."
All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. But Jeremy’s grandma tells him they don’t have room for "want," just "need," and what Jeremy needs are new boots for winter. When Jeremy’s shoes fall apart at school, and the guidance counselor gives him a hand-me-down pair, the boy is more determined than ever to have those shoes, even a thrift-shop pair that are much too small. But sore feet aren’t much fun, and Jeremy comes to realize that the things he has — warm boots, a loving grandma, and the chance to help a friend — are worth more than the things he wants.
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