Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams

Title: Four Feet, Two Sandals

Author: Karen Lynn Williams

Illustrator: Khadra Mohammed

Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (2007)

ISBN: 9780802852960

 

Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams is a poignant picture book that promotes a sense of belonging, compassion, friendship and social awareness.

 

Lina lives in a Peshawar refugee camp on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Relief workers unload donated clothing to the desperate crowds of refugees. Lina finds a sandal that when she puts it on is a perfect fit. She sees another girl, Feroza wearing the matching sandal. They build a friendship and share the sandals, wearing them on alternate days.

 

Their friendship grows as they fetch water from the well, watch children study at the boy’s only school and share their dreams and hardships. Lina and her mother are chosen to emigrate to America. She gives her sandal to Feroza as her mother has saved enough for a pair of new shoes. But Feroza hands it back telling Lina they will share the sandals again one day.