Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts is a great picture book to promote appreciation, generosity, jealousy, and peer pressure.

Jeremy tells his grandmother he wants ‘those shoes’, a new pair of black shoes with white stripes. Her no-nonsense response leaves him wishing he had what his friends have. “There’s no room for ‘want’ around here – just ‘need’. And what you need are new boots for winter.”

Jeremy is mortified when his old shoes fall apart and the school counsellor provides an unstylish replacement pair. Jeremy successfully searches a second-hand shop for a pair of the shoes. There is one problem, they are too small. After some contemplation, he passes the sneakers to a young child who Jeremy realises needs them more than him.

Illustrator: Noah Z. Jones

Publisher: Candlewick (2009)

ISBN: 9780763642846

Teaching Resources: Those Shoes

These resources relate to the book, author and illustrator. The number of resources varies book to book. Please check they are appropriate for your specific needs before using them with children. If you have any suggestions please get in touch!

Character: These Shoes Be Kind to Yourself lesson plan
Maribeth Boelts Website: Those Shoes Teacher’s Guide
Mindfulness Exercises for Children: Gratitude for Happiness and Health
Reading is Fundamental: Teaching Support Materials
Six Trait Gurus: How hard is it to be the ONLY kid who can’t have “Those Shoes”?
Teaching Children Philosophy: Guidelines for Philosophical Discussion
Teaching Tolerance: What’s Fair?
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Books by Maribeth Boelts & Noah Z. Jones

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There's a Book For That!

Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts