Four Feet, Two Sandals

Co-authors Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed spin an immensely poignant tale of two girls living in a refugee camp in Four Feet, Two Sandals. Lina and Feroza have both fled war-torn Afghanistan with their families, heading for the relative safety of nearby Pakistan. When relief workers pass out used clothing, Lina finds one yellow sandal with a blue flower on it, but discovers that its companion has been claimed by Feroza. At first each girl keeps her sandal to herself, but eventually they decide to share the pair, alternating days. From this beginning, friendship develops, but when Lina and her family are given permission to resettle in America, the two girls face being parted...

I found myself immensely moved while reading this show more story, which would make an excellent picture-book companion to books like Deborah Ellis's The Breadwinner and Parvana's Journey, which offer stories for older children about the turmoil in war-torn Central Asia, and the experience of Afghani refugees. The narrative is simple but immensely effective, painting a picture of two young children caught up in terrible events well beyond their control. Despite the losses they have suffered - Lina's father and sister were killed in the war, while Feroza's entire family perished, save for her grandmother - the girls find a way to be generous and loving with one another, modeling the best of the human spirit for young readers and listeners. The artwork by Doug Chayka, done in acrylic paint, has a soft impressionistic feeling around the edges, but utilizes bright colors that capture the tones of that part of the world. Highly recommended to anyone looking for children's stories about refugees in general, or the experiences of people from Afghanistan in particular. show less

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Four Feet, Two Sandals. I liked the book because the authors integrated in a foreign language and there is great characterization. Throughout the book, the two main characters, Lina and Feroza, say to each other, “As-salaam alaykum.” The authors continue to say “Peace be with you” after each time so that the reader knows what the girls are saying. This gives the reader a feel for the girls’ culture and it teaches about the Arabic language. I also love the characterization of the two girls. Neither Feroza nor Lina were selfish at any point in the story. From start to finish, the girls shared the sandals and a meaningful friendship. The saying “Four feet, two sandals” was repeated to emphasize show more the bond they created. The theme I took from this book is that friendship is important and should be placed above all material things. show less

This is a thought-provoking, deep picture book. I love how, even though it is dealing with difficult topics, it maintains its child-friendly feel through the voice of the young protagonists. The girls in the book are strong female role models, despite only being ten, which I appreciate in a children's book.

CRITICAL LITERACY: This book looks at two Pakistani girls living in a refugee camp, which may be a foreign topic for adults and children alike. However, the girls are so relatable that I, as the reader, am able to experience the difficulties that come with living in the situation they are in. The book prompts good discussion about sacrifice, supporting one another even when we ourselves have nothing, and overcoming obstacles.
USE: show more This would be a great book to use when talking about history and the periods of time where refugee camps have been a reality around the world or in the US, specifically. I could also use this book to talk about sacrifice, and how we must look out for one another even when we feel that we have nothing ourselves.
MEDIA: Acrylics show less

I really liked this book because it encouraged readers to think about the tough issues in todays world and how it broadens their perspectives on real life situations. This book is about a friendship among refugees who are waiting to feel free and find their place of home. Lina and Feroza do not let a pair shoes come in the way of friendship that created. I think overall they needed each other to lean on in order to feel supported during a time of hardship. Again, this book has readers thinking about the lives of people as this still occurs today.

I loved this book! I thought it was a beautiful story about a friendship that blossomed over a simple connection. It gives students a glimpse of the struggles that kids their age face in other countries. It shows how our country helps other countries as well. The Americans would drop supplies to a Pakistan refugee camp and one day they dropped sandals off. Two girls find one part of the pair of sandals and agree to split the time they use them. This was a wonderful message to students on sharing and becoming friends in the most unlikely of circumstances. I thought the characters were portrayed in a very real sense. They were two girls who were just kind to one another and formed a friendship. The illustration was subtle but beautiful show more when conveying the expressions of the two girls. I thought the writing was unique and expressed the true feelings of the characters. I think it is a book that is eye opening to students about a world that exists other then their own. show less

Family read-aloud party for the holiday weekend: Juneteenth, Father's Day, a birthday, and the solstice. (2 of 5)

Two little girls from Afghanistan living in a refugee camp in Pakistan bond over a pair of shared shoes in this sad but moving little tale. It's sort of happy ending from 2007 is undercut when one remembers how many desperate Afghan people were left behind when the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021.

I really enjoyed this book for several reasons. To start, I felt the illustrations truly enhanced my understanding of the situation and location the two young girls were living in. For each illustration, the illustrator would emphasize the yellow shoe, while still displaying the harsh circumstances in the background. Being that I had never seen a refugee camp in a desert before, the pictures of the brown wilted tents, dirty stream, and worn clothing helped my mind to picture the scenery. In addition, I felt the characters within the story were very believable and well-developed. Given the circumstances the two girls were in, it is understandable why they formed such a bond, and why the sharing of the yellow flip-flips was so important show more to them. It was an item they could share to provide comfort to one another’s feet. The main idea to this story is the power of friendship. Although the two girls were living in conditions unfathomable to most ten year olds, they were able to live each day in happiness, and rely on each other for hope. show less