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Overview
Have fun with numbers in this hilarious new picture book by master storyteller and illustrator Tony Ross.
“One hundred shoes, please!” said the little centipede. “Fifty left ones, and fifty right ones.”
“Why do you want one hundred?” asked the shoe seller.
“Because I’m a centipede, which means a hundred feet,” said the little centipede.
But when are one hundred shoes too many shoes? And what do you do with too many shoes? Why, you give them away!
Find out who gets them in this delightfully silly story about a centipede with sore feet.
A little centipede buys shoes to protect his feet but finds that they are a lot of trouble to put on and take off.
Synopsis
Have fun with numbers in this hilarious new picture book by master storyteller and illustrator Tony Ross.
“One hundred shoes, please!” said the little centipede. “Fifty left ones, and fifty right ones.”
“Why do you want one hundred?” asked the shoe seller.
“Because I’m a centipede, which means a hundred feet,” said the little centipede.
But when are one hundred shoes too many shoes? And what do you do with too many shoes? Why, you give them away!
Find out who gets them in this delightfully silly story about a centipede with sore feet.
Publishers Weekly
Ross (the Amber Brown series) mixes together a little math, some empathy for first-time shoe wearers and plenty of humor-infused illustrations in this quaint tale. An expressive black line and watercolor wash reveals the titular arthropod's angst, with his overly large eyes and raised brow, as he stubs a toe and then must deal with the hassles of buying 100 shoes. A shoe salesman smartly outfitted in a high-collar shirt, bow tie and morning coat shows off his wares, suspended from leafy fronds. The next day, when the hero laces up his shoes, he has 58 left over ("That's because most centipedes have only forty-two legs," granddad comments helpfully). The subsequent need for socks and all the daily lacing and unlacing takes its toll on the young fellow, who finally gives away his footwear. Despite some minor discrepancies in the artwork (little centipede has a window in his room that shows the sun and moon, even though the entrance to his home indicates that he lives underground), other details (such as the little centipede's poster of a guitar-playing grasshopper idol) add atmospheric humor. This lighthearted caper will make youngsters feel lucky they have to don only one pair of shoes each day. Ages 4-7. (Apr.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
Ross (the Amber Brown series) mixes together a little math, some empathy for first-time shoe wearers and plenty of humor-infused illustrations in this quaint tale. An expressive black line and watercolor wash reveals the titular arthropod's angst, with his overly large eyes and raised brow, as he stubs a toe and then must deal with the hassles of buying 100 shoes. A shoe salesman smartly outfitted in a high-collar shirt, bow tie and morning coat shows off his wares, suspended from leafy fronds. The next day, when the hero laces up his shoes, he has 58 left over ("That's because most centipedes have only forty-two legs," granddad comments helpfully). The subsequent need for socks and all the daily lacing and unlacing takes its toll on the young fellow, who finally gives away his footwear. Despite some minor discrepancies in the artwork (little centipede has a window in his room that shows the sun and moon, even though the entrance to his home indicates that he lives underground), other details (such as the little centipede's poster of a guitar-playing grasshopper idol) add atmospheric humor. This lighthearted caper will make youngsters feel lucky they have to don only one pair of shoes each day. Ages 4-7. (Apr.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
The little centipede hurts his toe and his mom suggests that he needs shoes. At the shoe store the centipede figures that since his name means "100 feet" he must need 50 shoes for the left foot and 50 shoes for the right. After he tries on shoes to find which ones he likes best, this mother buys them. Next day when he puts his shoes on all his feet and ties the laces, he sees that he has 58 shoes left over. His grand dad explains that, despite their name, most centipedes have only 42 feet. Even with his new shoes, his feet hurt. His mother tells him that he probably he needs socks. So that day all his aunties knit socks for him. Next morning he begins putting on his socks and the job takes him until lunchtime. After lunch he begins putting on his shoes. Finally he decides having 42 shoes and 42 socks is too much trouble. So he puts them in a wheelbarrow and gives them away to spiders, beetles and other creatures in this whimsical story. Mr. Ross, who lives in England, has written and/or illustrated more than 50 books for children. 2003 (orig. 2002), Henry Holt and Company,— Janet Crane Barley