Those Shoes (utgåvan 2009)

For intermediate readers. A boy realizes that generosity and friendship is more important than what everyone else has. The main character gives his dream shoes to a kid who was kind to him and never made fun of his shoes. They become friends. It shows that material things and what we want can sometimes skew our perspective of what is truly important. ( )

Jeremy really wants a pair of black, high-top shoes. His Grandma tells him that they can’t afford the expensive shoes because he needs winter boots. When Jeremy’s old shoes break, his guidance counselor gives him a pair of shoes that everyone makes fun of–except Antonio. Jeremy goes to the thrift stores and finds a pair of those black, high-top shoes, but they are too small. At school, Jeremy notices that Antonio’s shoes are duct taped together at recess. Jeremy eventually decides to give his shoes to Antonio. When it snows, Jeremy remembers that he has new boots. ( )

"Those Shoes" follows a young boy named Jeremy who feels constantly mocked by his desire for a certain pair of tennis shoes his family cannot afford, especially after his own pair of shoes falls apart. Like Free from the story "Rich" by Nikki Grimes, Jeremy finds out what it truly means to be rich. It is in helping others and appreciating what we have that we find real fulfillment. ( )

A little boy desperately wants the newest pair of shoes and even buys them at a thrift shop in a too-small size because his grandma cannot afford the shoes for him, he later gives them to a friend in his class who needs new shoes. This story shows a little boy who's grandmother can only afford the necessities in life and he later gets bullied for his hand me down shoes that he wears. The book greatly shows how little kids think and how they will even wear shoes that don't fit just to fit in. The boy's extremely kind act at the end of giving away his thrift shop shoes to another child in need is such a sweet gesture that shows no matter what you can always give to others. ( )

A young man learns to be thankful for what he has as well as how to show empathy and kindness to others.