An old shoemaker and his wife are quite poor and work hard to make ends meet. One night the shoemaker leaves a soft piece of leather on the table. The next morning he rises from bed and to his astonishment, find a brand new pair of shoes. Later, the shoemaker and his wife realize that it is indeed elves that have been making these magical shoes and drawing customers in from far and wide. It is a magical tale spun with crafted care.

Evaluation

Jim LaMarche’s illustrations are absolutely beautiful. The vibrant colors of the colored pencils blend smoothly together to create a smooth, realistic texture. I love how there is a slight glow of light shining through the window of every page, creating a masterpiece of childhood warmth and fantasy. I think one of the themes that is illustrated in this story is the magic of being a child. Although the elves are children, they create beautiful work that leaves the adults in awe. Having the setting during or near the Christmas season also adds a spirit-filled flavor to this story. The shoemaker and the elves is a classic tale that can be read at any time of the year. It is a great prediction story. The teacher may stop halfway through the story so the children can write down their predictions in their journal. Who do they think is making the shoes? (the teacher may have to cover the title for this activity). The students in kindergarten and first grade can also decorate their very own pair of shoes using construction paper, a shoe tracer and colored pencils. This story may also be used to explain the meaning of the word “kindness.” What did the elves do for the Shoemaker and his wife that was so kind? Perhaps the teacher decides to have the students carry out a “shoe drive” as a classroom service project. The possibilities are endless.

  • Jim LaMarche Author
  • Jim LaMarche Illustrator
  • Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Publisher
  • 2003 Year
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