Dirty feet

by Steven Kroll

Penelope removes her too-tight sneakers on the way to school, thereby setting the stage for a series of disastrous encounters between her feet and a variety of messy substances.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Stephen Kroll spoke at schools and conferences all over the world. He was married to the journalist, Kathleen Beckett, and they lived in New York City and an old carriage house in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. When he was not writing or traveling, he played a lot of tennis and walked around looking at everything.

Reviews

[Kathy Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a funny, laugh out loud children's book that was a favorite of my children when they were young. I bought a copy and re-read it and loved it so much.
Penelope loves her bright green sneakers with orange stripes, and keeps scrounging her toes in, even though they are becoming too tight. One day, as she walks to school, they begin to hurt, and so she takes them off for a bit. However, a dog swipes them and runs away! She has to go on to school with bare feet, and along the way steps into a street sweeper's mess, mud puddles and more. By the time she gets to school, she definitely has dirty feet, leaving tracks as she walks. Her teacher and the principal try to help and the more things happen, the funnier it gets.
I know my grandchildren will love this book. Five stars.

[Penelope Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was actually named after this book, so I kind of have to love it. It is really cute. This was one of my mother’s favorite books growing up, and she always wanted to have a daughter named Penelope that had a pair green sneakers with orange stripes. So she did! This book will always hold a special place in my heart. ❤️

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What they say about girls and shoes....Penelope is too young to have heard those! In this one she keeps three, her favorite being a pair of orange sneakers, the other two those hard shoes you would see on Little House, Waltons, etc. Today, going to school alone on the sidewalk, Pen has to take her sneaks off since the sneaks have become too small now. Then she loses them , and has to trudge to school in muddy bare feet. How will she last the school day barefoot and with every attempt to correct her problem getting her feet dirtier? Perhaps the principal has the answer. Author Steve Kroll has written a cool kids book based on his own experiences. The part that I think makes him brave is that HE is embodied by a FEMALE hero, and thus makes him an inner feminist. I think all guys are that way deep down, which is why some are too scared to admit it. If the shoe doesn't fit, wear it and weep!
Four stars
Penelope a SOLE SISTER!!!

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom recently cleaned out the house and found a bunch of books from when we were little. Of course she gave them all to me. They certainly bring back memories of reading them over and over and over again. 30 years later and I still remember these stories. The books themselves may be a little worse for wear but the stories are still wonderful.

I'm not sure if this book was what led me to love to go barefoot or if that was just a natural predilection.

[Lisa Anderson]

I could see any child loving this book. It was funny and predictable of childhhod behavior and mishaps.

[Cynthia Frey bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorites as a kid. My sister used to read it to me as a kid. I ordered a copy for my kids on Ebay. They love it too.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found it while cleaning and remembered it as my favorite from childhood. Still love it.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was little!

[Marcia Lyon]

This is one of my favorite stories to read to children. It let's children know that Principals and teachers are not mean and will help you out, no matter the situation.