Susan Wilson Reads "Those Shoes" and "New Shoes"

The Books: Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts, illustrated by Noah Z. Jones and New Shoes by Susan Lynn Meyer, illustrated by Eric Velasquez

Those Shoes: All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. Though Jeremy’s grandma says they don’t have room for "want," just "need," when his old shoes fall apart at school, he is more determined than ever to have those shoes, even a thrift-shop pair that are much too small. But sore feet aren’t much fun, and Jeremy soon sees that the things he has — warm boots, a loving grandma, and the chance to help a friend — are worth more than the things he wants.

 New Shoes: When her brother's hand-me-down shoes don't fit, it is time for Ella Mae to get new ones. She is ecstatic, but when she and her mother arrive at Mr. Johnson's shoe store, her happiness quickly turns to dejection. Ella Mae is forced to wait when a customer arrives after her and is served first. Ella Mae is unable even to try on the shoes because of her skin color. Determined to fight back, Ella Mae and her friend Charlotte work tirelessly to collect and restore old shoes, wiping, washing, and polishing them to perfection. The girls then have their very own shoe sale, giving the other African American members of their community a place to buy shoes where they can betreated fairly and "try on all the shoes they want." 

Set in the South during the time of segregation, this stunning picture book brings the civil rights era to life for contemporary readers. (both previews from Barnes and Noble) 

Activity:  Susan brainstormed with the students in this second grade class at Doty Memorial School in Worcester, VT the things they might want and the things they need.  Then she had them trace around their feet (as the girls were obliged to do in the white-owned shoe store in New Shoes), and write their own lists of things they want and things they need.