I know. Things have gotten just a tad out of hand this week. Monday’s post barely made it in under the wire, and I skipped Wednesday’s altogether to give everyone more time to vote during this busy week when lots of people are off their normal schedule. But now it’s Friday and we’re back on track with Perfect Picture Books!
(Oh. And by the way, in case you’re interested, we’ll get around to the winner of the Holiday Contest too! :))
But no skipping ahead! Or at least, if you do, please come back, because this is a wonderful book and I don’t want you to miss it!
Four Feet, Two Sandals
Written By: Karen Lynn Williams & Khadra Mohammed
Illustrated By: Doug Chayka
Eerdmans Books For Young Readers, September 2007, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 7-10
Themes/Topics: Friendship, Sharing, Refugees, Loss, Separation
Opening: “Lina raced barefoot to the camp entrance where relief workers threw used clothing off the back of a truck. Everyone pushed and fought for the best clothes. Lina squatted and reached, grabbing what she could.”
Brief Synopsis: In a place where people have very little, two girls each get one of a pair of sandals. They could have fought, but instead they share the sandals. As they go about their routines, waiting and hoping for their names to appear on the list for a new home, the sandals remind them that friendship is the most important thing. And when one girl gets the chance to live in a new land, the bond of their friendship remains.
Links To Resources: Teacher’s Guide, Discussion Guide, author’s note at back of book adds extra information.
Why I Like This Book: This story gives children a glimpse of a very different kind of life. For children who are fortunate, this book may help them not to take things for granted so much. For children who are less fortunate, this book may help them see that they are not alone. Told gently and with hope so that it is appropriate for children, this book nonetheless opens the way to important discussions about refugees, having and not having, war and peace, loss, and separation. But the underlying message is one of love and friendship, something all children understand and can relate to.
Susanna Leonard Hill 
YAY for Miranda!! I like books like this because I think it is important to realize how others live and be greatful for what they have. Have a Happy New Year!!
Congratulations to Miranda on a truly funny poem! I loved it!
Thank you so much again for hosting the contest. I was thrilled that “Fishmas,” made the list of finalists in such a strong field of participants! 🙂
Happy New Year–Natalie
Congratulations Miranda. Your poem was a fun one. I like this book topic too. (Also will be interested in how Disqus works out for you … ) Happy New Year.
I will be interested in how Disqus works for me too 🙂 Right now I'm trying to figure out how not to get double notification of every comment posted!
Congratulations to you, too, Natalie! I loved Fishmas! Very creative and fun it was (obviously!) one of my top picks with that dark humor! I'm sorry you didn't win this one, but I hope to see more of your work in future contests!
That's exactly why I like this book, Erik!
Congrats to Miranda for Rudolph Going Green! You did a fantastic job! Your poem was funny and you did a great job with the rhyme!
The book sounds wonderful. I will have to read it.
Yet another lovely picture book and I really enjoyed reading those Night Before Christmas rhymes. Hope you have a happy new year.
Congrats to Miranda! That really is brilliant.
Great picture book choice Susanna, sharing is a hard one to teach normal kids, but the appreciation of how much or how little you have is brilliant to show children.
Happy New Year and thanks for all that you've done bringing us picture book writers together this year. It really has been wonderful getting to know you all 🙂
Congratulations to Miranda and to all the finalists. Great story/poems all.
This sounds like such an excellent book, Susanna. Thank you for introducing it to us/us to it.
And congratulations to Miranda! what a lot of delightful entries there were in the contest.
Finally, I'm still working on trying to bring my new blog to life (technical difficulties are, I hope, temporary, please do not adjust your techno-challenged blogger) so I don't have a Perfect Picture Book post this week — here's hoping all will be up and running for next week!
Thanks for sharing the review! And Happy New Year to you, too, Susanna!
Four Feet, Two Sandals sounds like a wonderful book for children.
Congrats Miranda and Happy New Year, Susanna!
It is a wonderful book – more serious than many, and not for youngest readers I wouldn't think, but very nicely written and thought provoking. Congrats to you, too, Penny, for a GREAT story!
Thanks, Rosalind! The stories were great, weren't they? 🙂
I really like how this book is done. Without preaching it really still gets you to think.
I'm so glad if everyone is having fun in this writing community – I certainly am! I've enjoyed meeting everyone and all the fun things we do together!
They truly were all wonderful stories!
You are excused 🙂 Good luck with your new blog – can't wait to see it!!!
You're most welcome, Dawn! It's a wonderful book. Feel free to join us for PPBFs any time 🙂
It's definitely worth a read, Misha! And thanks! Happy New Year to you, too 🙂
I am so glad that you chose Four Feet, Two Sandals! That's a great one and I'm thrilled to see it being shared. You really have great taste for picture books! Happy New Year Susanna and everyone and thanks for the Congrats! Still can't believe it!
Thank you, Miranda. And congrats to you on a great story! Don't forget to let me know which prize you want 🙂
Huge congrats to Miranda. Just about to jump on a plane to NYC so no post for today. The story you chose is an idea I had for a PB so I am glad to know it already exists in a wonderful way!
You are excused too 🙂 (Beth isn't posting either because she's trying to get her new blog up.) Sorry your idea has already been done, but I bet there's room for a different take on it. Have a great trip to NYC! I grew up there and still live only an hour and a half away 🙂
Congrats to Miranda!
I've read Four Feet, Two Sandals before and it is a wonderful choice for Perfect Picture Books! It's a culturally different book, plus it has a fantastic message.
Happy New Year!
A beautiful book and congrats to Miranda. There are so many lovely books out there.
I really like it… in case you couldn't tell by the fact that I picked it 🙂
Happy New Year to you, too, Loni!
There really are, aren't there? Sometimes it's a little intimidating – like, how can we come up with new things when there's so much great stuff out there already? – but mostly I find it inspiring and very fun because we get to read them all 🙂
Really loved your multicultural selection, Susannah. I've been wanting to review it for months. Still will read it. I believe children need to know how other kids live.
Congratulations Miranda! All the final entries were good. Pat
You will love this book, Pat. And you would probably have written a more articulate review than I did! You should definitely read it when you get a chance 🙂
I really love your writing contests. They are so fun and creative. Thanks.
I'm so glad you enjoy them, Randy! I hope you'll enter some more – your writing is so fun and creative!
Congratulations, Miranda! And thanks for hosting this awesome competition, Susanna. It was so wonderful reading all of the entries. 🙂
Also, thanks for sharing Four Feet, Two Sandals. It sounds like a powerful read, opening our younger generation's minds to a complex issue.
And of course, Happy New Year!!!!
I'm so glad you enjoyed reading the entries, Cally! I did too 🙂 And Four Feet, Two Sandals really is a wonderful book. Happy New Year to you, too! 🙂
Congrats to Miranda and all of the finalists! Four Feet, Two Sandals sounds like a wonderful book! Julie
It really is!