If the Shoe Fits
By Gary Soto
G.P. Putnam’s Sons (2002) ISBN: 0399234209
Gary Soto, an author of many genres, elucidates both the life of living with little money and the love that endures regardless of a family’s income. In If the Shoe Fits, the main character, Rigo, has three brothers and one sister. As the youngest boy, Rigo gets stuck with his older brothers’ second-hand clothes. Tired of the tired hand-me-downs, Rigo is surprised with a new pair of loafers on his 9th birthday. Proud of his new shoes, Rigo sports them to school, but is quickly picked on by a school bully, Angel. As a result, Rigo throws his loafers in the closet where they stayed all summer, until he gets invited to a girl’s birthday party. Rigo takes out his shoes, wears them to the party, but earns sore feet. Later that night, Rigo’s uncle shares that he has a new job. Rigo notices his uncle’s worn clothes, much like Rigo’s. In the end, Rigo decides to give his loafers to his uncle so that he can wear them to his new job.
Quantitative: Lexile Level--AD730L; ATOS--3.2
Qualitative: If the Shoe Fits is best for students in third grade. Students can connect with the idea of giving to our loved ones as Soto presents. With Spanish words used, language may prove a challenge for some students. For this reason, this book may need adult direction. Soto provides a small glossary in the back of the book to help decipher the Spanish.
Curriculum Suggestions: Soto has a talent for creating realistic fiction. Students could examine Soto’s use of detail and his emphasis on family and community to write their own piece of fiction or an autobiographical narrative. By tracking Rigo’s character development, students will not only see how Rigo changes over the course of the text, but they can also use it as a model to create their own character. If the Shoe Fits could also serve as a text to discuss idioms.
Content Area: English; Health--Bullying; Health--Families; Mexican Americans
Common Core Standards: RL.3.1-6
Addition/Digital Content:
- Gary Soto: Official Site--http://www.garysoto.com
*Meets the “Reading for Pleasure Picture Book” requirement
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