Sunday, March 22, 2015

Four Feet, Two Sandals, by Karen Lynn Williams

Williams, Karen Lynn. Four Feet, Two Sandals. Michigan: Eerdman's Publishing Co, 2007. Print.

Additional Information:
  • Multicultural children's book
  • Hardcover
  • Illustrated by Doug Chayka
  • Illustrated by a non-English illustrator
Synopsis: Four Feet, Two Sandals is a story of courage, hope, and friendship.  Relief workers bring used clothing to a refugee camp in Pakistan when ten year old Lina discovers a sandal that fits her perfectly.  She is ecstatic to find such a treasure until she sees another little girl with the other sandal.  Rather than dispute over who gets the pair of shoes, the girls decide to share them and each wear one sandal.  The girl discovers the true meaning of love, friendship, and sacrifice.  

Book Notes: This story keeps the heavy topic of refugees and poverty light with a heart warming theme of love and friendship.  Four Feet, Two Sandals discusses the topic of displaced people, which can be advanced for young children.  It would be best to read this book with older elementary students so that they may fully benefit from a class discussion about people in the Middle East.  The illustrations are soft and realistic.

Critique: Four Feet, Two Sandals is a great read aloud choice to teach about issues in the Middle East.  It covers the topic of refugees and poverty, but keeps it age appropriate with the story of two young friends.  Even though it is a picture book, this story addresses problems that should be properly discussed with children of the appropriate age.  I would probably not read this story to young students because they may not understand some of the concepts as well as older children.  This story nicely leads into a class discussion of world issues, so it is a great choice for the sixth grade classroom when they study world history.

Classroom Activities: This book is a great introduction to teaching about people in the Middle East, especially those who are displaced.  As previously stated, it is ideal for the sixth grade classroom because it delves into world history, specifically concerning Pakistan.  Many activities easily pair with this book, such as planning a clothing drive for the less fortunate or writing letters to those in another country. Below are links to more classroom ideas.


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