Four Feet, Two Sandals
by
Karen Lynn Williams, Khadra Mohammed & Doug Chayka
Order:
USA
Can
Eerdmans, 2007 (2007)
Hardcover
Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch
T
his beautiful and moving picture book takes place in a unique setting but it encompasses universal themes. Lina and Feroza meet in a refugee camp on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Lina and her mother are awaiting passage to America, while Feroza and her grandmother have just arrived at the camp. The girls have each lost family members due to fighting in their country.
T
hrough donations handed out by relief workers, Lina and Feroza have each come into possession of one half of a pair of beautiful yellow flowered sandals. Initially they each wear one sandal, but they quickly come up with the idea of taking turns wearing the sandals as a pair. A friendship develops between the two girls as they share not only shoes but hopes, dreams and, sadly, an understanding of loss. When one girl leaves for America, the other gives her one of the shoes to keep, believing that they will reunite someday.
T
his multicultural book will appeal to children of all nationalities as it is a tribute to friendship and a message of hope. The concept of sharing shoes reminds me of another wonderful children's book by Sashi Fridman, entitled
The Last Pair of Shoes
. The illustrations in
Four Feet, Two Sandals
perfectly capture the desert setting with its warm yellows and deep tones.
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