A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 240

Picture Book: Shoebox Sam

Author: Mary Brigid Barrett

Illustrator: Frank Morrison

Summary: Delia and Jessie spend their Saturdays with Shoebox Sam at his shoe repair shop. There old shoes become like new and anyone in need finds a warm welcome. On the wall are prized ballet shoes, worn by Lucratia Lavidia and repaired by Shoebox Sam years before. After a typical customer, two separate individuals, likely homeless, come in worn and wet from the rain. They are greeted with food and offered new shoes. The latter one, an older lady, asks for prettier shoes than those first offered. Sam has none so she is fitted with some that are “serviceable and warm.” She puts them on and then sees the beautiful ballet shoes. Sam explains who they belonged to and how they are toe shoes for a dancer. She is lured to them and touches them lovingly. Sam is moved and places the shoes in her hands. She wraps them tenderly and exits after expressing her gratitude.

Hanna’s Comments: The summary above may seem sad and poignant, but this is actually a delightful book. Sam and the children’s enthusiasm for the customers and their delight in sharing the food and shoes allow this book to be a perfect demonstration of godly hospitality and generosity.  

Publisher & Date of Publication: Zonderkidz, 2011

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, acceptance of others, aliens/immigrants/refugees/strangers, blessings, brokenness, call/calling/vocation, choices/decisions, clothes/shoes, comfort, dance/dancing, difficulties, encouragement, fruit/fruit of the Spirit, generosity/giving/offering/stewardship, gifts/talents, God’s nature, God’s will, goodness, helping, homelessness, hospitality, image of God, joy, kindness, nurturing, openness, outreach, passion, pleasing God, possessions, poverty, rain, sacrifice, satisfaction, servant/service/serving, treasure

Scripture Connections: One gives freely, yet grows all the richer (Proverbs 11:24); Jesus washes his disciples’ feet (John 13:3-11); we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)        

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to children in a lesson on Jesus washing his disciples’ feet or how God wants us to delight in hospitality and generosity.