August 1, 2024
A French child learns about empathy by trying on other people's shoes and imagining what their lives are like. Brown-skinned Matou walks to school alone every day now that Mom works in Paris. One Friday, school lets out early, and while heading home, Matou notices different kinds of shoes lined up outside the mosque, including a pair of pristine white and orange athletic shoes--almost Matou's size! The child can't resist trying them on. Later, after returning the shoes, Matou sees their owner, a well-dressed boy, getting into a sleek car. Maybe he doesn't walk much, Matou thinks. Each week Matou tries on new shoes and ponders their owners' circumstances until one Friday, Matou runs straight home--the child is planning to spend the afternoon with Mom! Excitement turns to anger when Mom gets home late. Now Matou must try to step into Mom's shoes and consider her perspective. Halikia effectively sets up the story's central conflict by showing Matou characterizing the shoes' owners based on their footwear and trying to understand their points of view. Tikkou's blend of digitally rendered illustrations and photographs creates visual interest and a touch of whimsy with an earth-toned palette and splashes of bright color. A sweet tale grounded in teaching compassion and seeing the world from other perspectives.(Picture book. 5-9)
COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
January 1, 2025
This picture book invites readers to practice compassion by trying on others' shoes -- both literally and figuratively. On her walk home from school in her Paris suburb, Matou passes a mosque and sees "a sea of shoes" in front of the building (it is customary to take off your shoes before entering the prayer area of a mosque). A pair of pristine white sneakers stands out, and Matou can't help herself -- she tries them on. She continues trying on shoes, and when their owners claim their footwear, Matou notices that each pair reveals something about the person who wears it. The pristine sneakers' wearer forgoes walking home for a ride in a shiny car, suggesting wealth. A girl with worn, stretched-out ballet flats rubs her shoes together while waiting for her parents -- she's unhappy. Matou is miffed when her mother cancels a shopping date because she has to work late, but when she tries on Mom's shoes, she is able to see her perspective. The illustrations mix sepia-toned backgrounds with pops of color. Hand-drawn scenes in colored pencil are combined with photos, adding texture and variety to the illustrations. This endearing story about understanding others is an excellent read-aloud that is likely to spark activities, conversations, and possibly some exchanges of footwear. Julie Hakim Azzam
(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
January 1, 2025
This picture book invites readers to practice compassion by trying on others' shoes -- both literally and figuratively. On her walk home from school in her Paris suburb, Matou passes a mosque and sees "a sea of shoes" in front of the building (it is customary to take off your shoes before entering the prayer area of a mosque). A pair of pristine white sneakers stands out, and Matou can't help herself -- she tries them on. She continues trying on shoes, and when their owners claim their footwear, Matou notices that each pair reveals something about the person who wears it. The pristine sneakers' wearer forgoes walking home for a ride in a shiny car, suggesting wealth. A girl with worn, stretched-out ballet flats rubs her shoes together while waiting for her parents -- she's unhappy. Matou is miffed when her mother cancels a shopping date because she has to work late, but when she tries on Mom's shoes, she is able to see her perspective. The illustrations mix sepia-toned backgrounds with pops of color. Hand-drawn scenes in colored pencil are combined with photos, adding texture and variety to the illustrations. This endearing story about understanding others is an excellent read-aloud that is likely to spark activities, conversations, and possibly some exchanges of footwear.
(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)