Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts illustrated by Noah Z Jones

I have dreams about those shoes.

Black high-tops. Two white stripes.

"Grandma, I want them."

"There's no room for 'want' around here - just 'need',"

Through Jeremy's eyes it seems everyone has those shoes. Everyone except him. The guidance counselor offers him new shoes when his own fall apart but these have Velcro and an animal from an old cartoon series on the side. You can just feel Jeremy's embarrassment. Back in class everyone laughs at Jeremy. Everyone except Antonio Parker.

I would be good to compare this reaction with the class response in Crazy Hair Day.

Grandma can see Jeremy is sad but when they visit the shoe store she knows there is no way they can afford those shoes. Jeremy and his grandmother visit three thrift stores and in the final one they find those shoes. "Black shoes with two white stripes. High-tops. Perfect shape. $2.50."  It all seems utterly perfect BUT will they fit?

Jermey is desperate to wear the shoes from the thrift shop even though his toes are in agony. There are some new shoes in the offing though. Grandma buys some much needed show shoes.

Luckily for Jeremy a few days later it snows. You should notice the autumn leaves on the opening end papers and snow on the final end papers. There might not quite be the happy ending you expect but luckily for Antonio, Jeremy finds a way to be kind.

Here is a video of the whole book. Take a look at this BookBag review. I read those shoes because I enjoyed I Bike like Sergio's by the same author and illustrator. It would be good to compare these stories with an older class.

Boelts blends themes of teasing, embarrassment and disappointment with kindness and generosity in a realistic interracial school scenario bringing affecting closure to a little boy’s effort to cope in a world filled with materialistic attractions and distractions. Kirkus