Saturday, March 12, 2011

REVIEW: "Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes" by Larry Peterson

Willie isn't like the other kids. He has slippery feet! Everywhere he goes, he slips and slides all over the place. Even when he wear shoes, he still slips and slides. So one day, he gets a pair of shoes that will keep him from slipping and sliding. But they're so ugly! How can he ever wear them to school? Everyone will laugh!

A first children's book by Larry Peterson, this story tackles the concept of accepting differences. The ending includes a list of ideas to open up discussion about this very topic. The images in the book are colorful and engaging. They do a great job evoking the feeling of the book, and they will delight younger readers as well as adults.

The storyline of the book seems to me to be best geared towards a 5-8 yo age group, but the ideas can extend well beyond that group. There were quite a few words on most of the pages, however, making it more likely to be a read-aloud for younger children. The discussion points included at the end offer a great starting point for groups of children to discuss how it feels to be different. The storyline itself is engaging and fun, and the silliness factor will really engage children. Many children know the feeling of being different and afraid to stand out, and the crazy extremes of this story will delight.

Overall, a fun story for children and adults alike and a recommended read!

4 /5 stars

Available at Tribute Books or find more buy links here

Find out more about the book here

Share your thoughts about accepting differences here

Watch the book trailer:

3 comments:

Tribute Books said...

Thanks Grace for the great review. I'm glad you enjoyed the silliness of Slippery Willie while at the same appreciating its deeper message. We're so happy that you hosted a stop on the book's blog tour.

It Makes Sense To Me said...

Hi Grace---just wanted to say THANK YOU for taking the time and effort to review my book. Your kind words and insight into the story are greatly appreciated and they meant a lot to me. Thanks again---
Sincerely,
Larry Peterson

Anonymous said...

This a cute children's story that puts a point across.Thanks!