Sneakers. Sandals. Flats. High-heels. Boots. Moccasins. Slippers. Loafers. Flip Flops. There are shoes for every different type of weather, season, and occasion. Whether you have small feet, big feet, narrow feet, or wide feet (I'm starting to feel like Dr. Seuss here...), there's a pair out there for you!
No matter how many shoes you may have, there's always that one special pair. The pair that brings you back to a special time or place. In the extraordinary picture book, A Pair of Red Clogs, by Masako Matsuno, the reader is drawn into a grandmother's special memory of a pair of wooden clogs. We learn a lot about her character and culture along the way.
Oh, the joy of a little girl with a new pair of shoes! It's so hard for children to keep them looking new, though, isn't it? What's a girl to do when playing an innocent "weather-telling game" causes her to get a crack in her new clogs? You'd be surprised...
I can't say enough about this masterpiece of a picture book. Here are some of the things I love about it:
- The voice of the narrator (the grandmother) is so authentic that you feel like she's in the room with you! The words are so beautifully written and flow so nicely. You can definitely put yourself in her shoes!
- The illustrations, by Kazue Mizumura, are every bit as intricate and carefully drawn as the words are written. I can't begin to imagine the amount of time it must have taken to have completed each one. It appears that they were done with colored pencils, and the lines, patterns, and facial expressions complement the words perfectly. I've honestly never seen anything like these illustrations. Their depth really helps you to see the world through the narrator's eyes.
- Japanese culture shines through in every detail, and you know how much I love books which integrate social studies. You don't have to limit yourself to nonfiction to learn about other cultures.
- The narrator has a conscience, and you can feel her inner conflict. As she contemplates lying to her mother, you can easily put yourself in her place. In a world where honesty is an undervalued attribute, I find the moral of this story to be like a breath of fresh air. It will give parents a lot to talk about with their children.
- There are other underlying messages here as well. The narrator does not talk down to the reader in any way, but instead acknowledges the weaknesses in herself and in all of us. I'll just leave it at that, and leave you with the last few pieces to fill in...
What I love most about this particular book is that people of all ages will be able to relate to it in different ways. How can you not love a book that leaves you thinking about yourself, about the world, about your...shoes?
I hope you enjoy this children's book as much as I did!