Those Shoes

Written by Maribeth Boelts · Illustrated by Noah Z. Jones

A young boy tries to get a pair of shoes he really wants, but they are too expensive, so he and his grandma try to find a cheaper alternative.

4.3/7 Bookroo experts·4.5/5 Goodreads · 4,110 ratings

40 pages· 969 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud

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Bookroo's summary

Jeremy dreams of owning the trendy shoes everyone at school wears, but his grandma can't afford them. When he finds a pair at a thrift shop, they're too small, yet he buys them anyway. As he struggles with sore feet, Jeremy discovers the warmth of his boots, his grandma's love, and the joy of helping a friend are far more valuable than fitting in. Will Jeremy realize what truly matters before it's too late?

From the publisher

Jeremy, who longs to have the black high tops that everyone at school seems to have but his grandmother cannot afford, is excited when he sees them for sale in a thrift shop and decides to buy them even though they are the wrong size.

At a glance

Format
Pages: 40
Words: 969
Reading age: 5–8
Audience: Picture
Lexile: AD550L

Themes & topics

Books about friendship Books about financial difficulty Books about being nice Books about kindness Books about social themes

What readers & critics say

Reviews

4.3

out of 7

3.5

“Those Shoes has a great lesson about sharing, even when we have very little ourselves. Jeremy lives with his grandma and they don't have a lot of money for extra things, even though Jeremy really wants a special pair of shoes. Eventually, Jeremy finds the shoes he wants at a thrift shop and purchases them even though they are a bit too small. Later, he notices that Antonio, another boy at school, has shoes that are held together with tape. What Jeremy decides to do next is a great example of kindness and empathy. The message isn't at all subtle, but it's valuable and a great opportunity to talk with young readers about having an outward-looking perspective.”

Lemony Snickers

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one