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Children's Fiction Stories In Verse

Shoe Shakes

by (author) Loris Lesynski

illustrated by Michael Martchenko

Publisher
Annick Press
Initial publish date
Sep 2007
Category
Stories in Verse
Recommended Age
4 to 7
Recommended Grade
p to k
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781554511068
    Publish Date
    Sep 2007
    List Price
    $19.95
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781554511051
    Publish Date
    Sep 2007
    List Price
    $9.95

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

What would happen if your shoes shook you?

If they pulled you to the park and they zoomed you to the zoo? Find out in this unconventionally active celebration of feet in motion by a much loved children’s poet.

Loris Lesynski definitely knows how to get kids clapping their hands and stomping their feet. In Shoe Shakes, a collection of 10 poems, she set her sights on preschoolers who get a kick out of wacky sounds and off-the-wall ideas. Rhythm lovers will hit the ground running with the join-in beat of “The Boot Boot Bounce.” Kids will giggle at the thought of “Snowshoes” that are shoes made from snow, and will pause to ponder “Feet Thoughts.”.

Complete with uproarious illustrations by Michael Martchenko and surprises on every page, Shoe Shakes is a guaranteed to set toes a-tappin’ and funny bones a-laugin’.

About the authors

LORIS LESYNSKI is a bestselling author of brilliantly funny poems, and a frequent visitor to schools where she gets kids excited about poetry. She lives in Toronto, ON.

Loris Lesynski's profile page

 

MICHAEL MARTCHENKO est né à Carcassonne, en France. Il s'installe au Canada avec sa famille alors qu'il a 7 ans. En 1966, il décroche son diplôme du Collège des arts de l'Ontario et devient bientôt directeur d'une agence publicitaire. C'est lors d'une exposition d'art graphique que Robert Munsch découvre le travail de Michael Martchenko. Michael a reçu le prix Libris 2006, Illustrateur de l'année.

 

MICHAEL MARTCHENKO has illustrated dozens of books, and is most famous for his work with Robert Munsch, including Smelly Socks (Tes chaussettes sentent la mouffette!), Makeup Mess (Maquillage à gogo) and We Share Everything! (On partage tout!). He lives in Burlington, Ontario.

 

Michael Martchenko's profile page

Awards

  • Joint winner, Top 25 Books for Kids List, Amazon.ca
  • Joint winner, 100 Best Canadian Kids’ Books, Today’s Parent Magazine
  • Joint winner, Best Bets, Ontario Library Association
  • Short-listed, Next Generation Indie Book Awards
  • Joint winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, starred selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre
  • Joint winner, The Year’s Best List, Resource Links

Editorial Reviews

“A feast of footwear fun . . . an innovative and refreshing addition to a classroom unit or library storytime on clothing.”

Canadian Bookseller, 11/07

“Perfect for sharing and reading aloud . . . a wonderful introduction to reading and poetry.”

CM Reviews, 11/07

“Irresistible . . . exuberant . . . defies both reader and listener to sit still.”

Quill & Quire, 12/07

“Perfect for sharing and reading aloud . . . a wonderful introduction to reading and poetry.”

CM Reviews, 11/07

Librarian Reviews

Shoe Shakes

Look down! Do your feet and footwear have stories to tell? Loris Lesynski believes they do, and she has crafted a collection of ten delightful poems which focuses on these aids to mobility.

To most people, feet and shoes are for getting from Point A to Point B. However, to those with vivid imaginations they can be so much more. In the poem entitled “Shoe Shakes,” Lesynski explores flying shoes, jumping shoes, tapping shoes and more.

“BUT WHAT IF... my shoes shook me? And your shoes shook you? And they pulled you to the park? And they zoomed you to the zoo? And they swung you up the stairs... bouncing like a kangaroo?”

There are poems exploring boots, snowshoes and magic shoes. Interspersed are gems such as “Sailing”, where the inside of a house transforms into a ship and the rain becomes the sea, and “Ant’s Eye View” which describes the Herculean efforts of an ant crawling from a child’s ankle to his knee.

Loris Lesynski’s poetry collection is rhythmic, exuberant fun and is perfect to chant out loud using an expressive voice. The employment of a variety of fonts and word placement on the page add to the visual interest, as do Michael Martchenko’s uninhibited pencil, watercolour and gouache illustrations. Martchenko is an astute observer of the expression and antics of creatures great and small, and he playfully captures their individuality in his artwork. Readers will identify with the characters he has so energetically and affectionately brought to life.

Shoe Shakes will be a favourite of preschoolers and primary grade children, as well as those who read to them. This vibrant poetry collection will get your toes a-tapping!

Source: The Canadian Children's Bookcentre. Fall 2007. Vol.30 No.4.

Shoe Shakes

Rain boots / snow boots / go boots / go! In 11 poems, the author-poet serves up a feast of footwear fun. Artwork, rendered in pencil, watercolour and gouache, highlights the text’s frolicsome nature.

Source: The Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Best Books for Kids & Teens. 2008.

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