Magic Shoelaces (Child's Play Library) - Hardcover

Wood, Audrey

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0859531090 ISBN 13: 9780859531092

Publisher: Childs Play Intl Ltd, 1989

Synopsis

An entertaining book about perseverance, shoelaces and know-it-all sisters. Poor Matthew can't keep his shoelaces tied and Jessica wants him to go to play school so she can clean the floor (her friends are coming over). "Practice makes perfect" she reminds him and so he practices, but again and again they come undone. Older children laugh and tease him, "What are those worms doing crawling out of your shoes?" Matthew is frustrated - he pulls out the laces, but then his shoes won't stay on, he takes off his shoes and steps on a bee. Then he wishes for laces that would not come untied. Magic! A Magician appears with laces to swap that are guaranteed not to come untied. What a deal!!! But Matthew can't take them off to go into the school pool, so he jumps in shoes and all. The teacher is angry and send him home, "splash, squash" through the mud and onto Jessica's clean floor. "Out" she insists "and take off your shoes", but Matthew can't because they are magic. MAGIC!!! Oh, how Jessica would love a pair of those! She tries to buy them, but they can only be swapped. Matthew gets even, he swaps her his magic shoelaces for her old ones. He know Jessica is going to have problems with hers, but with practice his will be perfect. Again, a giggle on each page with the pictures explaining the limited text. Quick moving so the youngest children will enjoy it and beginning readers will have the pictures to give clues to the text.

About this title

From the Publisher

- Provides imaginary explanations for natural occurrences.
- Contains humor.
- Discusses the importance of individuality and brother and sister relationships.
- Provides alternative possibilities for real life situations.
- Combines fantasy and real-life experiences (tying shoes, losing teeth, etc.)
- Fosters story-telling skills through familiar experiences (children can re-tell these stories very easily as the topics are meaningful to them)
- Uses vocabulary to communicate feelings and stimulate imagination.
- Discusses many emotions and feelings important to children (e.g. frustration of not being able to tie laces or feeling left out when the tooth fairy visits brother and sister.)
- Develops the ability to identify a problem and find the solution.

Review

A boy who hasn’t mastered the art of tying his shoelaces is presented with the chance to swap them for a set of magic laces that never come undone. Of course he accepts the offer, but finds that with a little bit of practice his own laces might have been less troublesome than ones which never allow you to take off your shoes. A humorous reminder that quick-fixes are rarely the long-term solution. (Evening Echo/Irish Examiner 2005-12-01)

Edition details

• Publisher: Childs Play Intl Ltd
• Publication date: 1989
• ISBN 10: 0859531090
• ISBN 13: 9780859531092
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 32