It's Shoe Time! (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! #4)

Hilarious and very well-executed—shoe-pendous, even—this is a great addition for emerging readers and pun enthusiasts alike. One might say, a perfect pairing.

PreS-Gr 1-- Anthropomorphic shoes clamor to be selected by a girl preparing for a "Daddy-and-Me day!" They are dismayed that she picks a boot and a flip-flop, "You did not choose matching shoes!" The shoes follow her out the door and realize that her choice is okay when they see that her father is wearing two different shoes, too. This tale of love and individuality is peppered with puns: the high-tops say, "That was sneaky!" and the left sneaker says to its mate, "You are right. You are always Right." Elephant says, "OH NO! LEFT LEFT RIGHT!" He laughingly says, "Both the GIRL's and the DAD's shoes did not match!" And Piggie replies, "But they did go together! JUST LIKE US! We make a fun pair." Collier's distinguished art portrays a brown-skinned girl who, throughout the story, bears expressions of contemplation, joy, and finally tentativeness as she greets her father. Dad chips through the ice with his greeting, "Hi, you! Nice shoes!" His brown boot, yellow low-top combo brightens the mood of his daughter, and readers, too. The cast of footwear is expressive, sporting unique eyes--flip-flops wear sunglasses, slippers' sleepy eyes are slits, and they all have wry smiles. This is a fabulous addition to the "Elephant and Piggie" series. VERDICT This book is just right for beginning readers and won't be left on the shelf for long.-- Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI