Review Detail

New Shoes for Leo shines a light on immigrant families that support their relatives left behind in the home country. William watches his mother and Tia pack a box every month to send back to Cuba. He tries very hard to ask every member of the family if they have shoes that will fit his cousin, Leo. Through this fictional tale that follows real-life events in the author’s life, children are introduced to ideas of selflessness and charity. William understands that he lives in a place of plenty, and he does not need 2 sets of shoes when his cousin is doing without. The text sprinkles just enough Spanish to give it a rich, immersive texture to the story, while offering context clues to help readers understand words that may be unfamiliar. The illustrations use greens, yellows, reds, and browns to convey a sense of connection to family and warm feelings. Overall, this is a thought-provoking story where many readers would be getting a first exposure to the idea that some people live in poverty with inadequate monthly rations. It is the perfect story to inspire compassion, and how they could also help those in need.