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Four Feet, Two Sandals
by
When relief workers bring used clothing to the refugee camp, everyone scrambles to grab whatever they can. Ten-year-old Lina is thrilled when she finds a sandal that fits her foot perfectly, until she sees that another girl has the matching shoe. But soon Lina and Feroza meet and decide that it is better to share the sandals than for each to wear only one. As the girls go
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Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
August 1st 2007
by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
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I would have loved this if it wasn't for the sappy, "America-saves-the-day" kind of ending. Most refugees' stories don't end this way and it's kind of silly to have American kids read a book that leaves them with this sugarcoated and false message. I was hoping to use this along with The Breadwinner but I doubt I will. The ending ruined all the positive messages about friendship, at least for me.
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Sep 16, 2008
Lisa Vegan
rated it
really liked it
Recommended to Lisa by:
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
This title caught my eye because a friend of mine/the mother of one of my closest childhood friends, as a young American girl in the 1920s, had to share a pair of shoes with her sister; they could go outside and to school only one at a time. So, I was curious about this story.
I love that this book was written because a child asked why there weren’t any books about children like her. This is a story about two refugee girls who become friends.
The message seems to be that friendship and hope are wo ...more
I love that this book was written because a child asked why there weren’t any books about children like her. This is a story about two refugee girls who become friends.
The message seems to be that friendship and hope are wo ...more

Mar 31, 2020
Abigail
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Readers Looking for Children's Stories About Refugees
Co-authors Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed spin an immensely poignant tale of two girls living in a refugee camp in Four Feet, Two Sandals. Lina and Feroza have both fled war-torn Afghanistan with their families, heading for the relative safety of nearby Pakistan. When relief workers pass out used clothing, Lina finds one yellow sandal with a blue flower on it, but discovers that its companion has been claimed by Feroza. At first each girl keeps her sandal to herself, but eventually they
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This is a heart-warming story about finding friendship and kindness in the midst of a refugee camp. The lives of those who experienced the trauma of fleeing their homes and country for the relative safety and potential for a brighter future is highlighted in this short story.
The acrylic illustrations are nicely rendered and help to convey the drab existence of life in a camp, but also the expressions of hope and joy children experience no matter where they are.
Overall, it's a fast read and a g ...more
The acrylic illustrations are nicely rendered and help to convey the drab existence of life in a camp, but also the expressions of hope and joy children experience no matter where they are.
Overall, it's a fast read and a g ...more

Text-to-Teaching Connection: What is a response activity that you can do in a classroom with children in response to the book?
Four Feet, Two Sandals, by Karen Lynn Williams would be a great way to have my children grasp some concepts while learning right and left concepts threw some fun interacting classroom games. After the read we would play "Ms. Unique Says use your left hand or use your right hand" and everyone would stand up to play and I would start by asking the students to use their left ...more
Four Feet, Two Sandals, by Karen Lynn Williams would be a great way to have my children grasp some concepts while learning right and left concepts threw some fun interacting classroom games. After the read we would play "Ms. Unique Says use your left hand or use your right hand" and everyone would stand up to play and I would start by asking the students to use their left ...more

This is a well written and beautifully illustrated picture book about two young girls who live within a refugee camp in Peshawar, a city on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The two girls each end up with ½ of a pair of sandals after a relief workers truck distributes used clothes to the refugees. The two girls become friends and exchange the sandals every other day so that each of them can have a chance to wear the complete pair. This book is very rich with cultural detail which can be seen on e
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This is a beautiful picture book. Two young Afghani refugees are in a refugee camp in Peshawar, Pakistan. Relief workers have brought clothes and shoes. Lina finds a beautiful sandal that fits perfectly. She hasn't had shoes for two years. Another girl, Feroza, finds the other one. At first, they both want the sandals...but ultimately, they decide to take turns. Four feet, two sandals. This continues and their friendship grows despite the difficulties of living in a refugee camp. I like the endi
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Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams & Khadra Mohammed, illustrated by Doug Chayka – Loved this book. Perfect connections to studies on refugees, caring for others, risk taking, life comparisons… simply beautiful. Well worth the read, reread and more. Good book for 4th grade and up even though it could be shared with younger ages as well. The idea of losing family members might lead to a discussion…

Aug 25, 2008
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
read-iic,
read-childrens-books
Taking place in a camp in Pakistan for Afghan refugees, this story of two girls who learn to share and become friends tugs at the heartstrings. We take so much for granted in this country! I wanted to reach out to the girls in the story and send them another pair of sandals so they'd each have a pair. I'll definitely be ordering this one for my library!
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A brilliant book for PSHE, I would use this in a Year 5/6 class to help with topics such as, identity, society and equality. This book is about workers in a relief truck in a refugee camp in Peshawar, Pakistan, throw a pile of clothing on the ground and the people rush forward to grab what they can get. Lina, a ten year-old girl, retrieves one sandal, and another girl, Feroza, finds its match. The two decide to share the sandals, each wearing them every other day. Both girls have suffered: Lina'
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Sep 25, 2019
Zainab Alkhamis
added it
Four Feet, Two Sandals
By Karen Lynn Williams & Khadra Mohammed – Published in 2007
Four Feet, Two Sandals is about two young Afghani girls Lina and Feroza living in a refugee camp in Pakistan who became friends after sharing a pair of sandals brought by relief workers. I found this interesting book in A Mighty Girl website in social issues book list. It teaches young children 6 to 9 year- old the value of friendship. It can be introduced to children as a story about immigration and the life in r ...more
By Karen Lynn Williams & Khadra Mohammed – Published in 2007
Four Feet, Two Sandals is about two young Afghani girls Lina and Feroza living in a refugee camp in Pakistan who became friends after sharing a pair of sandals brought by relief workers. I found this interesting book in A Mighty Girl website in social issues book list. It teaches young children 6 to 9 year- old the value of friendship. It can be introduced to children as a story about immigration and the life in r ...more

Lina raced barefoot to the camp entrance where the relief workers threw used clothing off the back of a truck. Lina was ten, but she had not worn shoes for two years."
"Suddenly the girl turned, taking the matching sandal with her."
"We can share."
...more
"Suddenly the girl turned, taking the matching sandal with her."
"We can share."
...more

Four Feet, Two Sandals written by Karen Lynn Williams & Khadra Mohammed, illustrated by Doug Chayka is a heart-warming story about two refugee children and a pair of sandals. One of the girls, Lina finds a pretty yellow sandal with a blue flower and is in search for the second shoe. As she is looking she notices another young girl named Feroza wearing the other sandal - they both go about their business. The very next day Feroza approaches Lina as she was washing her one sandal in the river and
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Summary/Critique:
Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams is a picture book about the relationship between two young girls in a refugee camp in Pakistan. A young girl, Lina, finds a sandal after the relief workers threw used clothing out for the people to have. She looks up and finds another young girl with the other matching sandal. They go their separate ways until Feroza, the other young girl, goes up to Lina and gives her the other sandal. They become friends and decide to share the pai ...more
Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams is a picture book about the relationship between two young girls in a refugee camp in Pakistan. A young girl, Lina, finds a sandal after the relief workers threw used clothing out for the people to have. She looks up and finds another young girl with the other matching sandal. They go their separate ways until Feroza, the other young girl, goes up to Lina and gives her the other sandal. They become friends and decide to share the pai ...more

Ten-year-old Lina lives in a refugee camp in Pakistan with her family. When relief workers come to the camp throwing used clothing off the back of a truck, Lina joins the large crowd of people, hoping to find something for herself. As everyone leaves, Lina discovers a brand new sandal, yellow, with a blue flower on it. Thrilled, she slides the shoe on her foot, it is a perfect fit; Lina has not worn shoes for two years. When she looks around for the matching sandal, she sees a young girl, Feroza
...more

Four Feet, Two Sandals, one amazing story about friendship! Based on author Khadra Mohammed’s personal experiences, this story talks about kindness, generosity and friendship.
The story begins with Lina racing to the entrance of the refugee camp where she lives with her family. Relief workers have brought in a truckload of new clothing for the men, women and children of the camp. Lina finds one yellow sandal with blue flower and it fits her perfectly! She is ecstatic, until she sees an unknown g ...more
The story begins with Lina racing to the entrance of the refugee camp where she lives with her family. Relief workers have brought in a truckload of new clothing for the men, women and children of the camp. Lina finds one yellow sandal with blue flower and it fits her perfectly! She is ecstatic, until she sees an unknown g ...more

Four Feet, Two Sandals is about a girl who lives in a refugee camp and has nothing but the clothes on her back; not even shoes.When workers come to her camp to bring clothes and shoes everybody storms them to take what they need. Lina is so happy when she finds the perfect fitting sandal; however, she finds out that another young girl Feroza has the matching one. The separate sandals soon become the bond of these two girls friendships when they decide to share the sandals between them. Later the
...more

Nov 30, 2015
Alyssa Crowley
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
realistic-fiction,
friendships,
courage,
bravery,
life-lessons,
dreams,
hopes,
multicultural
Williams, Karen Lynn and Mohammed, Khadra. Four Feet, Two Sandals. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2007.
Lina and Feroza, two young refugees forced out of their homes in Afghanistan and into a Pakistan refugee camp become friends over a pair of yellow and blue sandals. After relief workers bring used clothes to the refugee camp the two girls form a bond through the sharing of the sandals. The two girls tell of their tragic stories and losses due to the war and wait in hopes of moving to America ...more
Lina and Feroza, two young refugees forced out of their homes in Afghanistan and into a Pakistan refugee camp become friends over a pair of yellow and blue sandals. After relief workers bring used clothes to the refugee camp the two girls form a bond through the sharing of the sandals. The two girls tell of their tragic stories and losses due to the war and wait in hopes of moving to America ...more

1. Genre - International Literature
2. Awards -
3. Grade Level - 3-4
4. Many parts of the world can easily go undiscussed in an elementary classroom with so much to do and so little time. Afghanistan and Pakistan definitely fall into that category and therefore this is a great picture book to open up students' eyes to the bigger world and struggle that many children their same age face. I would begin by introducing the book to the class and asking them if they know what a refugee is and where Afg ...more
2. Awards -
3. Grade Level - 3-4
4. Many parts of the world can easily go undiscussed in an elementary classroom with so much to do and so little time. Afghanistan and Pakistan definitely fall into that category and therefore this is a great picture book to open up students' eyes to the bigger world and struggle that many children their same age face. I would begin by introducing the book to the class and asking them if they know what a refugee is and where Afg ...more

Grade: K-2
Genre: International
Award(s): Cybils Award, Finalist (2007), Association of Theological Booksellers, Theologos Award for Best Children's Books (2007), Children's Book Council, Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People(2008), Cooperative Children's Book Center, CCBC Choices (2008), International Reading Association, Notable Books for a Global Society (2008), California Young Reader Medal Program, Picture Book for Older Readers Nominee List (2010–2011)
This book teaches a valua ...more
Genre: International
Award(s): Cybils Award, Finalist (2007), Association of Theological Booksellers, Theologos Award for Best Children's Books (2007), Children's Book Council, Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People(2008), Cooperative Children's Book Center, CCBC Choices (2008), International Reading Association, Notable Books for a Global Society (2008), California Young Reader Medal Program, Picture Book for Older Readers Nominee List (2010–2011)
This book teaches a valua ...more

Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams & Khadra Mohammed is an amazing story about the power of friendship. Two little girls who belong to a refugee camp find two separate yellow sandals with a blue flower on them, one day they meet and one of the little girls offers to give the other girl the other half of the sandal so she can have a matching pair. The little girl refuses and suggests that they share the shoes, so they switched back and forth every single day. While doing this they begi
...more

This book presents a topic rarely seen in literature, especially in children's books. The story takes place in a refugee camp in Pakistan. Two young Afghan girls become friends after they decide to share a pair of sandals they found in a donation box brought by relief workers. Inequality is very apparent in the girls' environment, they do not have a real home and are uncertain of their future. The two girls cherish a pair of slippers because they had not owned a pair of shoes in years. The girls
...more

Williams, K. L., Mohammed, K., & Chayka, D. (2007). Four feet, two sandals. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
In a refugee camp, there is hardly any room for luxury and Lina doesn't even have a pair of shoes that protect her feet form the hot sand. When relief workers bring by resources, Lina comes upon one sandal, and is delighted to have found such a treasure and soon realizes another girl in her village, Feroza has the other. They make a deal to share the sandal, trading ever ...more
In a refugee camp, there is hardly any room for luxury and Lina doesn't even have a pair of shoes that protect her feet form the hot sand. When relief workers bring by resources, Lina comes upon one sandal, and is delighted to have found such a treasure and soon realizes another girl in her village, Feroza has the other. They make a deal to share the sandal, trading ever ...more

I loved reading Four Feet, Two Sandals. The book is beautifully illustrated and the story is well written and touching. I enjoyed reading about the strong friendship between the two girls, Lina and Feroza, and how they took turns sharing one pair of sandals because it was all they had. To me, the ending was powerful and moving. Lina and her family move to America and Feroza stays behind in Afghanistan. Although Feroza could have kept the sandals for herself she gives one of the sandals to Lina s
...more

This was a short sweet story about two girls in a camp in Pakistan. A young girl name Lina found one sandal after the relief workers threw clothing off the back of a truck. She took the sandal and began to search for the other one. She found it on the foot of Feroza. Lina and Feroza befriended and decided to take turns wearing the sandals every other day. Lina and her family found themselves on the list of names for people going to America. Feroza and Lina were being split up and through goodbye
...more

Illustrator: Doug Chayka
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Year: 2007
Interest Level: 3-5
Reading level: 2-3
The simplified text looks at a girl's experience in a refugee camp in an Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The girl, Lina, ends up sharing a pair of sandals with another girl, Feroza, when relief workers deliver clothing to the camp. The girls befriend each other and the reader learns that both girls have lost family members in the war, but the story doesn't go deeper with that. In the en ...more
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Year: 2007
Interest Level: 3-5
Reading level: 2-3
The simplified text looks at a girl's experience in a refugee camp in an Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The girl, Lina, ends up sharing a pair of sandals with another girl, Feroza, when relief workers deliver clothing to the camp. The girls befriend each other and the reader learns that both girls have lost family members in the war, but the story doesn't go deeper with that. In the en ...more

Genre: International Literature
Awards: Cybils Award, Finalist (2007), Association of Theological Booksellers, Theologos Award for Best Children's Books (2007), Children's Book Council, Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People(2008), Cooperative Children's Book Center, CCBC Choices (2008),
International Reading Association, Notable Books for a Global Society (2008), California Young Reader Medal Program, Picture Book for Older Readers Nominee List (2010–2011)
Grade Level: 3-4
This would ...more
Awards: Cybils Award, Finalist (2007), Association of Theological Booksellers, Theologos Award for Best Children's Books (2007), Children's Book Council, Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People(2008), Cooperative Children's Book Center, CCBC Choices (2008),
International Reading Association, Notable Books for a Global Society (2008), California Young Reader Medal Program, Picture Book for Older Readers Nominee List (2010–2011)
Grade Level: 3-4
This would ...more

Williams, K., & Mohammed, K. (2007). Four feet, two sandals. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
Four Feet, Two Sandals is such an inspiring, sweet story of two girls who make the best of having only one pair of sandals. These two girls are both at a refugee camp and did not meet each other until clothing was brought to the camp and Lina finds one of the sandals. She was so thrilled, she decided to keep it. Lina soon sees another girl, Feroza, with the same sandal. This is when ...more
Four Feet, Two Sandals is such an inspiring, sweet story of two girls who make the best of having only one pair of sandals. These two girls are both at a refugee camp and did not meet each other until clothing was brought to the camp and Lina finds one of the sandals. She was so thrilled, she decided to keep it. Lina soon sees another girl, Feroza, with the same sandal. This is when ...more

A simple story, but when it ended I couldn't stop thinking about it.
Amazon reader review:
Based on co-author Khadra Mohammed's experiences with refugees in Peshawar, a city on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, Four Feet, Two Sandals is a children's picturebook about ten-year-old Lina and her young friend who each discover one of a wonderful pair of sandals. Together they must solve the problem of how to share one pair of sandles between four feet! As they wait and hope for their names to appear on ...more
Amazon reader review:
Based on co-author Khadra Mohammed's experiences with refugees in Peshawar, a city on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, Four Feet, Two Sandals is a children's picturebook about ten-year-old Lina and her young friend who each discover one of a wonderful pair of sandals. Together they must solve the problem of how to share one pair of sandles between four feet! As they wait and hope for their names to appear on ...more

I'm working on creating a booklist for my local public library. This book was one in consideration for this list.
I think this will be going on my list. I don't think the actual point of the book is manners or kindness/compassion, but it does have it generously.
I think the main point of this book was to illustrate the state of children and refugees in refugee camps on the borders of Pakistan, etc. I think it's to show the only hopes and states of lives these children have in such situations where ...more
I think this will be going on my list. I don't think the actual point of the book is manners or kindness/compassion, but it does have it generously.
I think the main point of this book was to illustrate the state of children and refugees in refugee camps on the borders of Pakistan, etc. I think it's to show the only hopes and states of lives these children have in such situations where ...more
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Karen was born in Connecticut, and received her Master’s degree in deaf education. She has lived in Africa and in Haiti. Karen had an early dream to be one of the youngest published authors, starting a writing club at ten. However, Karen's published works came later in life, after extensive travels and family experience. Karen's ability to draw from personal experience and adapt into writing forms
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