Step into My Shoes

3.5

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Author(s)

Alkisti Halikia

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Fotini Tikkou

Publisher Name

Lantana Publishing

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

October 01, 2024

ISBN13

978-1915244925

ISBN10 or ASIN

In a quiet suburb of Paris, Matou passes a mosque on her way home from school and can't resist trying on some of the shoes she finds outside.

Curious about the shoes' wearers, she begins to ask questions. Why do the sneakers of a neatly dressed boy look like they have never been worn? Why are the ballet flats of the girl from her school so worn out? With no one to give her any answers, she starts to imagine the answers for herself.

One day, when her mom has to work late, missing out on an afternoon with her daughter, Matou feels frustrated and let down. Can stepping into her mom's shoes help her build a bridge of understanding between them?

Editor review

1 review

Empathy through shoes

January 25, 2025 (Updated: June 25, 2026)

Overall rating

3.5

Plot

3.0

Characters

3.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

Step into My Shoes was a quirky way to demonstrate empathy. Matou lives in France and passes a Mosque every day to school. She is drawn to the shoes left outside the door and tries on ones she likes and imagines the person who must wear them. Through this literal sense of “walking in someone else’s shoes,” she is better able to forgive her mother later for disappointing her. Personally, I would have liked somewhere for her to learn not to touch things that are not hers, but readers are exposed to how to be empathetic, which is also a good goal. The illustrations used a mix of drawings and real images giving it a retro urban vibe.