Step Into My Shoes

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 imagine the lives they might lead. Why do the trainers of the neatly-dressed boy look like they have never been worn? Why are the ballet shoes 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 mum has to work late, Matou feels frustrated and let down. Can stepping into her mum’s shoes help her build a bridge of understanding between them?

A delightful story about empathy in which a little girl takes the expression “to step into someone’s shoes” literally.

"A sweet tale grounded in teaching compassion and seeing the world from other perspectives" – Kirkus Reviews

"This is a story about how we can develop empathy for others by stepping out of our own world for a while and imagining the kind of life others lead - with their often different views and priorities." – The Letterpress Project

“Readers’ eyes will be opened through this engrossing and revealing story, and it’s a positive as well as a rewarding read. Fotini Tikkou blends the occasional photograph into her illustrations which are as pleasing and illuminating as the text.” - Andrea Reece, LoveReading4Kids

"As Matou travels through Parisian suburbs on her way home from school, she stops at the local mosque to try on other peoples’ shoes, and get a glimpse into their lives. Exciting multi-media illustrations expertly bring to life the important message about having, and consciously developing, empathy for others." – Inclusive Books for Children's Top Pick

"Exciting multi-media illustrations expertly bring to life the important message about having, and consciously developing, empathy for others.” – Inclusive Books for Children’s Top Pick

"This endearing story about understanding others is an excellent read-aloud that is likely to spark activities, conversations, and possibly some exchanges of footwear." – The Horn Book

Alkisti Halikia is an award-winning author from Greece. Having studied Philosophy and Gallery Studies, she now works as a Museum Education Officer designing and performing educational programmes for pupils aged 4-12 years old. Fotini Tikkou graduated from the Athens School of Fine Arts and the Luca school of Arts in Brussels. She uses a mixture of traditional and digital techniques enriched with collage elements. She lives in Athens. Konstantine Matsoukas is a Greek author and translator. He has worked as a tutor in Philosophy, an academic researcher, a radio news announcer, and a freelance contributor to mainstream press media and literary magazines.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.