Albert's Old Shoes

Lisa Arsenault is an elementary-school teacher in Ajax, Ontario.

Albert is always being teased at school about his old, scuffed-up brown
shoes. One day, bitterly disappointed by his mother’s failure to buy
him a pair of white running shoes, he kicks the school soccer ball as
hard as he can. So high does it soar that the boys who once teased him
now want him to play soccer on their team; they also start to wear old,
scuffed-up brown shoes in his honor.

While older children would relate to Albert’s desire to fit in, this
book, with its simple language and cartoon artwork, is more suited to
younger children; the theme is too sophisticated for its medium. Also,
by having Albert rewarded for kicking the ball in a fit of pique, the
book conveys the wrong kind of message. Not recommended.