Step into my shoes
Alkisti Halikia and Fotini Tikkou (translated by Constantine Matsoukas)
Lantana

Matou, the narrator of the story, lives with her parents in a small town just outside Paris. One Friday afternoon, her school finishes early and walking home alone, Matou passes the mosque. Outside she sees what she calls ‘a sea of shoes.’ Her eye is drawn to a pair of trainers and as nobody is around, she tries them on. Then suddenly the door opens and she hurriedly removes the trainers and puts her own shoes back on. Shortly after a boy wearing the trainers passes her.

Henceforward Matou would make a habit of stopping and trying on various pairs of shoes left outside the mosque.

A few weeks later an eagerly anticipated day arrives; Mum has promised to leave work early so the two of them can visit the shops together. The perfect opportunity to show her mum those sports shoes, thinks Matou. But when she gets home, it’s Dad who greets her with the news that her mum is unable to take the time off from work. Matou is very angry, Mum apologises and asks her daughter to … “step into my shoes for a moment.” Having had this saying explained to her, Matou agrees to try.

The result is that by recalling her mosque shoe trying, the girl is able to understand her Mum’s difficult position and all is well between them.

Come the spring, Matou is much happier; not only does she have a new friend, she also has a special new pair of shoes. With themes of acceptance, positivity and optimism, this book with its French setting, and mixed media illustrations, will enable readers to step into the shoes of the girl narrator.