Sue has lost her lovely shoe
in the thick and tall bamboo.
There’s a party at the zoo.
She can’t go with just one shoe!
Do you see an orange shoe?
Say "I found it!" when you do.
Shirin Hashemi is the illustrator of The Lost Orange Shoe.
Kind's short lines and rapid rhymes are a joy, as Sue patiently tackles problems faced by her amusing friends: Hippo Pou, who has ripped her tutu right before a big performance; Lou’s nephew Boo, who needs a bamboo crutch; and on and on. Celebrating innovative thinking, crafty ideas, and patience within friendship, Kind showcases the truth that helping others sometimes leads to helping yourself as Sue makes smart use of the bamboo, making a canoe so that Moo can cross a river, or using it to make stew for her sick friend named—wouldn’t you know it!—is Chu.
Shirin Hashemi’s crisp, appealing character design deepens the fun, with each animal boasting memorable details (Sue’s scarf, sneezy dog Chu’s monogrammed hanky, Pou’s pink tutu) and big, relatable emotions that drive home the beats of the story. Taking in the drawings proves as much fun as speaking lines like “Pou has torn her tutu, Sue. / Right before her big debut!” Also included: fun guided questions to check for comprehension and to further engage young readers with Sue's tale.
Takeaway: Problem-solving and tongue-twisting rhymes power this delightful debut.
Comparable Titles: Eve Bunting's Have You Seen My New Blue Socks?, Sarah Seung-McFarland's Where The Lost Things Go.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B+