In Daniel's Shoes

"Kimmelman and Mandal articulate the importance of perspective-taking in this clear-eyed story about communicating with kindness. As a toddler, pale-skinned Daniel takes up singing long before beginning to speak; after he starts chatting regularly around age five, others sometimes find his speech blunt ('Your shoes smell funny!'). When a stray comment to his sister results in her tears, the duo’s mother, a rabbi, offers a lesson about the importance of kindness in the Torah, and suggests Daniel learn how to walk in others’ shoes. Literalizing the practice, first by standing in his sibling’s slippers, the protagonist learns to reflect before talking and improves at both 'speaking out AND not hurting feelings.' Thick, crayon-like detailing mingles with lightly washed artwork to soothingly capture the pale-skinned subject’s learning curve across largely domestic full-bleed spreads and smaller cameos. This playful story probes interpersonal dynamics with a mixture of compassion and wisdom. A note concludes. Ages 4–7."

—Publisher's Weekly

"A child, cued neurodivergent, constantly speaks his mind.

For a long time, Daniel doesn’t speak. Mom and Dad, a rabbi and a reporter, respectively, worry, but sister Joy believes he’ll talk when he’s ready. Finally, at almost 5, Daniel starts talking nonstop. It feels 'SO GOOD to say exactly what he was thinking'—but not all thoughts are welcome. A child scowls when Daniel blurts, 'Your shoes smell funny,' and Joy cries when Daniel complains her singing hurts his ears. Daniel’s confused: 'Isn’t it important to say what you think?' Explaining that kindness matters, too, Mom tells Daniel about Rabbi Hillel, who advised, 'Treat other people the way you’d want them to treat you,' then suggests 'standing in other people’s shoes to see how it feels' before speaking. Humorously, Daniel literally stands in myriad pairs of shoes. But he also gradually realizes when honesty is appropriate, tempering it with tact. Instead of highlighting Joy’s off-key singing, Daniel praises her, then hums the correct notes. Now, Daniel '(almost) always' speaks kindly. Mandal’s cartoon illustrations clearly convey the emotional impact of Daniel’s remarks, while Kimmelman’s thoughtful text adeptly breaks down lofty concepts for a young audience. An author’s note invites readers to try family members’ shoes and explains the idiom’s Native American origin as well as Jewish and Christian variations. Daniel and his family have light skin and are cued Jewish; background characters are racially diverse.

A fun, inclusive introduction to empathy. (Picture book. 4-8)"

—Kirkus Reviews