Lena's Shoes Are Nervous: A First-Day-of-School Dilemma

by Keith Calabrese, Juana Medina (Illustrator)

Overview

In the tradition of School’s First Day of School, debut author Keith Calabrese and Pura Belpré Award winner Juana Medina share a sweet, universal story about a clever little girl whose shoes are nervous about the first day of school.

Today is a big day! Today, Lena starts kindergarten. She is very excited. But there’s just one problem...

Lena’s shoes are nervous.

Lena doesn’t want to miss out on her first day of school, but she can’t go without her favorite shoes! How can she convince them to be brave?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534408944
Publisher:	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	07/03/2018
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	292,811
Product dimensions:	9.70(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Keith Calabrese lives in Los Angeles with his wife, kids, and a dog who thinks he’s a mountain goat. Lena’s Shoes Are Nervous is his first children’s book.

Juana Medina was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, and came to the US to study at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). She now lives in Washington, DC, where she teaches at the Corcoran College of Art. Visit her at JuanaMedina.com.

Editorial Reviews

06/04/2018
Lena is pumped to start kindergarten, but she may have to call the whole thing off. As she explains to Dad, her shoes, which are essential to her first day ensemble, are having serious second thoughts. While Dad waits patiently, Lena enlists her headband, who is “friends with everybody,” to listen to the shoes’ fears (“School is big and loud and different and they’d really rather not go”) and remind them of “other times they were all scared but decided to be brave, together,” such as getting vaccinated and an encounter with a big dog. Lena throws in some reverse psychology—“Looks like I’ll have to wear my slippers,” she tells her shoes, and it’s off to school for everyone. Medina (ABC Pasta) employs digital cartooning, a mix of fluid ink lines and flat, bright colors, to supply a steady flow of visual energy. Making his debut, talent-to-watch Calabrese brings flawless comic timing and a fresh twist to the back-to-school theme. Ages 4–8. (July)

Publishers Weekly

"“Today, Lena starts kindergarten. Lena is very excited”; unfortunately, Lena’s favorite shoes are too nervous to go.... The elliptical approach to anxiety is funny and effective, with the book treating Lena’s projection cheerfully but respectfully as the process allows her to explore her own worries without losing her pose of competence; along the way, her father is a loving helper who gives her space. There’s playful dash to the digital art, with thick, scrawly lines and entertaining details (watch the cat) providing a robust and easygoing partner for the text. Nervousness isn’t limited to school, so this may provide kids with all kinds of apprehension a stylish way to explore their feelings."

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Young Lena is totally prepared, and excited to start kindergarten. She's not nervous...but her shoes are... The story perfectly displays humorous kid-logic... This isn't one of those first-day-jitters stories where a grownup steps in (pun intended) to solve the problem. Lena is in control throughout, as Medina's judiciously colorful, child-friendly (and inclusive) digital illustrations show."

Horn Book Magazine

★ 08/01/2018
PreS-K—This clever story confronts kindergarten jitters in a unique way. Lena has her clothes ready for her first day, but her shoes are nervous. She finds her dad, and together they decide that her headband should convince the shoes. The headband reminds the shoes about other moments of bravery, and Lena's threat to wear her slippers tips the balance. They hesitate at the playground, "…but not for long." The brief, humorous text includes clever dialogue between Lena and her supportive father throughout. By casting the shoes as the nervous ones, Calabrese allows Lena to embrace her excitement, yet confront her concerns about the new experience. Her father encourages her to solve her own problem, empowering Lena while acknowledging her fears. Medina's digitally rendered, childlike illustrations fit the story perfectly. The cover's close-up image of Lena's shoes crossed over each other do, indeed, look nervous. Several of the spreads have the backgrounds drawn in black lines on white, with the only color being Lena, her dad, and the clothing itself, drawing the eyes to the central conflict. VERDICT This innovative first day of school story will be a welcome addition to libraries everywhere.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

School Library Journal

2018-05-14
Lena projects her nervousness about the first day of school onto her shoes, but how does one reach détente with footwear?Lena is very excited for school. So is her dress, which is "very outgoing." But those shoes are quaking in their, um, shoes. Lena's dad suggests talking to them, but Lena is very matter-of-fact: They're shoes. Duh! But her other clothes can talk to her footwear. Lena puts her headband next to her shoes and listens as the shoes express their fear: School is "big and loud and different." The headband reminds the shoes of similar situations that they got through by being brave together, vignettes showing a doctor visit, a scary movie, and a big dog. The shoes are still unsure, so Lena announces she'll wear her slippers. That does it. The final spread shows all the schoolchildren from the waist down, their shoes the focus. The seemingly digital illustrations use flat, solid colors in bright hues against brilliant backgrounds, several pages just black and white outlines with a few items picked out in vivid color for effect. Beige-skinned Lena's dad's skin is several shades darker than her own, and he has puffy brown hair. Her classmates are diverse and include a girl in hijab and a child in a wheelchair. The reminder of other tough situations survived may not be enough to calm readers' own fears, however, despite the appealing whimsy of the device.A novel though probably not universal look at first-day jitters. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews