In Their Shoes
What’s inside...
Alex, an imaginative and curious child, discovers a mysterious pair of shoes that embarks them on a magical adventure. Each new pair of shoes offers Alex insight into the lives of their former owners, exploring various cultures, lifestyles, and difficulties. This journey instills in Alex a deeper sense of empathy and understanding in a diverse world. The book also delves into a captivating fairy-tale world of footwear, exploring culturally significant stories from Cinderella in China to dogs in America wearing boots. Illustrated by Lucie Arnoux, the collection traverses the globe and spans centuries, highlighting the enchanting essence of footwear through fairy tales and folktales.
Age
9-12
Length
128 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think it feels like to be in someone else's shoes? Can you describe a time when you tried to understand how someone else was feeling?
How did the characters in the book handle situations differently? Which ways do you think were effective?
What did you learn about how people can help each other when they are feeling sad or upset?
If you could help any character in the book, who would it be and why?
How do you think being in someone else's shoes can help us in real life?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about and relate personal experiences to the story. This deepens understanding and empathy.
Ask open-ended questions that require more than a yes or no answer to stimulate critical thinking and discussion.
Validate your child's feelings and thoughts as they relate to the story to encourage emotional intelligence and self-expression.
Use examples from the book to discuss broader life lessons, which can help your child apply what they’ve read in real-world scenarios.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: In 'In Their Shoes', children learn about empathy as they see the world through the eyes of different characters from varying backgrounds and circumstances.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by showing more understanding and kindness towards their classmates and friends who may be different from them.
Example Lesson: Respecting Diversity
Explanation: The book showcases a variety of cultures and lifestyles, teaching children to appreciate and respect diversity.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children to embrace and celebrate diversity in their community and school, fostering a more inclusive environment.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: The characters in the book face various challenges, and by observing how they solve these problems, children learn different tactics and strategies.
Real-World Application: Children can use similar problem-solving approaches when faced with conflicts or challenges in school or at home.
Example Lesson: The Importance of Teamwork
Explanation: Throughout the book, characters often work together to overcome obstacles, highlighting the benefits and importance of teamwork.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to collaborate effectively with others during group activities or team sports.
Example Lesson: Courage and Perseverance
Explanation: Characters in 'In Their Shoes' demonstrate courage and the will to keep going despite difficulties, inspiring resilience.
Real-World Application: Children learn to not give up easily, whether it's dealing with a hard math problem or learning a new skill.