Young readers will identify with Henny’s struggle to face and accept her personal differences as well as the differences in others. Many will want to talk about how kids can be kind or mean to each other. This could include discussion of bullying as well—how it feels, what to do, etc.
Black-high tops with two white stripes—imagine them being the heart’s desire for a little boy. He wants them more than anything else in the world. All the other kids in his class have the extravagant shoes; Jeremy dreams of getting his own pair—of being cool. He gets “Those Shoes” but they don’t fit. Jeremy comes to understand the true value of things. A friend means so much more than a pair of trendy shoes.