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Thursday, December 28, 2017

It's Shoe Time, by Mo Willems and Bryan Collier. Hyperion Books for Children, Hachette. 2017. $10.99 ages 3 and up

"Excuse me ... "

"Have you seen
two shoes?"

ZZZZ

Maybe ....
what do they look like?

"US!"


Piggie and Gerald are as happy as I am to see another stellar addition to their Elephant and Piggie Like Reading series. I know many kids who will be just as happy.

"Gerald! It's BOOK TIME!"
"It's BOOK TIME?"

"It's SHOE TIME!"
"It's SHOE TIME ... ?

First, you said, "It's book time."
Then, you said, "It's shoe time."
Which time is it?"

"IT'S BOTH!"

 And so it is! What a wonderful job Bryan Collier does in creating a very funny story about shoes, and adventure. When the little girl comes looking for a pair of shoes to go on an outing with her dad, every pair is filled with excitement. Each is ready to fulfill her need for a pair of shoes. She is not sure what she wants ... until she chooses one shoe from one pair, and one shoe from another.

All shoes are aghast! They do their very best to dissuade her. They advise against choosing one from two different pairs ... they will not be the same! Off she goes, much to the consternation of the shoes left behind. Gerald and Piggie are also stunned. They are confused and need to know what might happen. The leftover shoes from the two pairs chosen are on a quest to find their other halves, asking a pair of slippers for help. No help there!

Hoping that when she meets up with Dad, he will help her sort it out, the two wait. What a surprise is in store for them ... and a laugh riot for readers, and for Piggie and Elephant!

Full of punny, unpredictable language and certain to make early readers hoot with delight, this book does just what it is meant to do - help little ones find joy in reading.

Mr. Collier's collage artwork is absolutely full of personality and wit. Bright and colorful, the shoes have character and charm. I love the dark of the closet and the expansive humor. Great for paired reading as the speech balloons are coded by color, making it easy for children to determine who says what. The bonus lies in learning about left, right, pairs and matching one to another.                                                                    









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