New Shoes
What's New Shoes About
Ella Mae is used to wearing her cousin’s hand-me-down shoes–but when her latest pair is already too tight, she’s thrilled at the chance to get new shoes. But at the shoe store, Ella Mae and her mother have to wait until there are no white customers to serve first. She doesn’t get to try anything on, either–her mother traces her feet onto a sheet of paper, and the salesman brings them a pair he thinks will fit. Disappointed by her treatment, Ella Mae and her cousin Charlotte hatch a plan to help others in their community find better-fitting shoes without humiliation. Eric Velasquez’ realistic oil paintings bring life to this story of a young girl’s determination in the face of injustice. The book includes an author’s note from Susan Lynn Meyer, discussing the historical context of the story and how the Civil Rights Movement worked to abolish unfair laws like the ones Ella Mae encounters. A 2016 NAACP Image Award Nominee, and a Jane Addams Children’s Book Award winner.
What Kind of Book is New Shoes
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The Creatives Behind the Book
Eric Velasquez, the son of Afro-Puerto Rican parents, was born in Spanish Harlem and grew up in Harlem in New York City. As a child, his love for doodling and drawing was strongly encouraged by his mother. From his grandmother he inherited a love of music and from his father he developed a love of movies. Growing up in this setting, Eric says, “Becoming an artist was a natural choice for me. I have never thought of being anything else.”
What Has Susan Lynn Meyer Said About This Book
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What Has Eric Velasquez Said About This Book
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Book Details
- ISBN
- 9780823425280
- Publication Date
- February 1, 2015
- Publisher
- Holiday House
- Page Count
- 32
- Words Per Page
- 36
- Reading Age
- 6 - 9 years
- Lib. of Congress (LCCN)
- 2012019673
- Lexile® Level
- 490L
- Scholastic Level
- N
- Est. Fountas & Pinnell Level
- ~M
- ATOS® Book Level
- 3.4
- Accelerated Reader® Points
- 0.5
- Accelerated Reader Quiz
- 174262
- Accelerated Reader Interest Level
- LG
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