Step into my Shoes
For ages 4+
One of the most important empathy exercises we want young children to do through literature!
By Alkisti Halikia, illustrated by Fotini Tikkou, translated by Konstantine Matsoukas (Lantana Publishing, 2024)
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Matou lives in Paris, and she has her own set of keys. She takes herself home after an early finish at school one Friday. Looking forward to ‘screen time’ (sound familiar?!) she passes by the familiar Mosque and notices all the different pairs of shoes outside (mixed-media double spread artwork = fabulously engaging… Adidas, wellies, brogues, ankle boots and more)… and overcome with curiosity she tries some of them on - all the while thinking about who the owner might be! (Great pause point for discussion in classrooms/storytime.) Screen time after school becomes so passé and the girl repeats her guessing game - seeing if she’s ‘judged’ the owner correctly when they come out of the mosque to put on their shoes…
One Friday though, Matou doesn’t stop at the mosque, she rushes home for a planned early movie with her mum, but she’s home late from work… Matou’s so angry with her! It’s only when her mum asks her to “…step into my shoes for a moment”… that she remembers the mosque…
A wonderful story for understanding how we are all sometimes too quick to judge, often wrong in our assumptions about someone, and its a good idea to get into the practice of trying to understand others, accepting differences even.
The text lends to a picture book that can be enjoyed by older children too due to the lengthier text. I’m very much drawn to the delightful colour palette of the art/illustrations, and the overall design of the book.
‘Step into my Shoes’ is literally one of the most important empathy exercises we want young children to do through literature!!
