Hello, friends! Our book today is The Red Shoes, written by Eleri Glass and illustrated by Ashley Spires, a sweet story of a girl and a coveted pair of crimson shoes.

A little girl in a dull, muted world goes to a shoe store with her mother. She’s in need of new shoes, but each pair on the shelf is as plain and boring as the next… that is, until she spies the red shoes. They are bright and colorful, and make her happy. She begs her mother for the shoes, but mom convinces her to try on a few other pairs first. The dour shoe store clerk measures her feet and fits her in a few “blah” pairs, but the girl knows what she wants, and as soon as she tries on her beloved red shoes, she feels as though she can fly. Leaving the store with new shoes in hand, she can’t wait to wear them – even going so far as to put them on before she curls up for a good night’s sleep.

Very cute. Every child (and let’s face it, every adult, too) has that one piece of clothing that makes them feel like a million dollars when they put it on, and this was a really sweet, sincere story about that feeling. The text has the structure and rhythm of free verse, but it is clear and uncomplicated to read, and conveys the emotions of the story well. The illustrations are darling, and make up for the faded color palette the story requires with expressive characters and dramatic visuals; I loved the little girl literally flying as she finally tried on the red shoes. The length is fine, and JJ enjoyed it. A guileless story that celebrates the joy of loving something small, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)