Books:
Top
Hello, shoes! by Joan Blos; illustrated by Ann Boyajian.
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, c1999.
A little boy and his grandfather search the house for his favorite shoes and celebrate together when he puts them on by himself for the first time.
My best shoes by Marilee R. Burton; paintings by James E. Ransome.
New York: Tambourine Books, c1994.
Celebrates the variety of shoes that can be worn, from sturdy lace up high shoes to naked feet and toe shoes.
Flip-flops by Nancy Cote.
Morton Grove, Ill.: Albert Whitman, 1998.
Even though Penny is annoyed that she can only find one of her flip-flops on the day she goes to the beach, she discovers a number of uses for it and enjoys her time there.
The blueberry shoe by Ann Dixon; illustrated by Evon Zerbetz.
Anchorage, AK: Alaska Northwest Books, c1999.
When Baby loses a shoe on a blueberry-picking trip, it becomes an object of curiosity for all the animals on Ptarmigan Mountain before being rediscovered by the family with a surprise inside.
I forgot my shoes by Jessica Harper; Kathy Osborn.
New York: Putnam, c1999.
In this rhyming story everyone has a forgetful day.
Alfie's feet by Shirley Hughes.
New York : Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, c1982.
Alfie is proud of being able to put his lovely new boots on by himself but wonders why they feel funny. (This story is
also contained in the collection, All About Alfie)
A pair of red sneakers by Lisa Lawston; pictures by B.B. Sams.
New York: Orchard Books, c1998.
At the sneaker store, Miles asks for a stunning, stupendous, sensational sneaker, with outrageous and notable features like attachable toes, suction-cup grips, and inflatable floats.
Sam's sneaker search by Claire O'Brien; illustrated by Charles Fuge.
New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1997.
After searching throughout the house for her one lost sneaker, Samantha decides that she can't wear it after all.
New shoes, red shoes by Susan Rollings.
New York: Orchard Books, 2000.
A little girl delights in a world full of all different kinds of shoes--especially the new shoes she gets to wear to a party.
Shoes by Elizabeth Winthrop; illustrated by William Joyce.
New York: Harper & Row, c1986.
A survey of the many kinds of shoes in the world concludes that the best of all are the perfect natural shoes that are your feet.
Poetry:
Top
My shoes are new and squeaky shoes,
They're very shiny, creaky shoes.
I wish I had my leaky shoes
That mother threw away.
I liked my old brown leaky shoes
Much better than these creaky shoes--
These shiny, creaky, squeaky shoes
I've got to wear today.
~Anonymous~
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe
| Traditional version | Kinder gentler version |
| There was an old woman | There was an old woman |
| Who lived in a shoe | Who lived in a shoe |
| She had so many children | She had so many children |
| She didn't know what to do. | She didn't know what to do. |
| She gave them some broth, | So she gave them some broth, |
| Without any bread, | With plenty of bread. |
| She whipped them all round, | She kissed them all sweetly |
| and sent them to bed. | And put them to bed. |
One, two, where's my shoe? by Tomi Ungerer
New York: Harper & Row [1964]
This very old and out of print book is well worth getting through inter-library
loan. Make felt copies of as many of the illustrations as you care
to. Preschoolers love to find the shoe hidden in every illustration!
Puppet:
Top
Instead of a puppet, I bring a shoebox full of various doll's
shoes, including sneakers, boots, slippers, sandals, and so on and let the
children tell me where and when such a shoe might be worn.
Fingerplays:
Top
Before I jump into My Bed
| Before I jump into bed at night | Jump |
| Before I dim the light | Pretend to switch out the light |
| I put my shoes together, | Hands together |
| So they can talk at night. | Hands talk |
| I'm sure they would be lonesome | |
| If I tossed them here and there, | Toss hands left and right |
| So I put them close together | Put hands together |
| For they're a friendly pair. |
Cobbler Cobbler
| Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe | Right fist pounds on left fist |
| Have it done by half past two. | |
| Stitch it up, stitch it down, | Make stitches with right hand |
| Make the very best shoes in town. |
Tying My Shoe
Suit actions to words
I know how to tie my shoe
I take the loop and poke it through
It's very hard to make it stay,
Because my thumb gets in the way.
Shiny Shoes
| First I loosen the mud and dirt, |
Hold up one hand for shoe. Brush off with the other. |
| My shoes I then rub clean | Rub shoe with palm of other hand |
| For shoes in such a dreadful state | Hide shoe behind back for a moment then return |
| Never should be seen. | |
| Next I spread the polish on, | Join thumb and index finger of one hand to make polish spreader and pretend to coat shoe. |
| And then I let it dry | |
| I brush and brush and brush and brush | Make fist and brush shoe vigorously |
| How those shoes shine! Oh my! | Extend hand and admire |
Take off one shoe, and turn it over. Put a plain piece of paper on the sole, and rub it with a crayon. Works best with sneakers!
