One, Two, Where's My Shoe?

by Tomi Ungerer

An intriguing visual game for children aged 2-5 to find the simple shape of a shoe in Ungerer's charming and retro illustrations

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1964

About the author

Jean-Thomas "Tomi" Ungerer was a French illustrator best known for his erotic and political illustrations as well as children's books.

Reviews

[Jennifer B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever drawings.

[Annie Friedlander · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is targeted at children who are just beginning to explore the world of books. The opening pages offer up a problem in a simple and familiar rhyme: "one, two, where is my shoe?" The pages that follow take the reader on a word-less journey of the fantastical possibilities of where a shoe just might be. As part of a giant boat? The body of an alligator? A fish's face? The hidden shoes within the pages encourage readers to search and allow them to create their own stories to go along with the silly illustrations. Don't worry... the shoe is found! "Three, four, on the floor!"

This book is fun and imaginative - a great introduction to the playfulness and fantastical world of literature.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever and brimful of whimsy

[Mely · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
An interesting and unique take on a seek and find book. Quite simple, and just a bit of a challenge for my 4 yr old, who was very intrigued by this book. Cleverly illustrated.

[Cheryl]

Ok here's the thing w/ me and Ungerer. I've loved Moon Man since I was small. I keep trying to find more by him that hit me right, but so far only have loved The Three Robbers, which I discovered as an adult and think child me would have loved, too.

This one, ah, I dunno. I think it helps to go in blind and figure out what's going on in all the middle wordless pages. But even so, is it a book for tots? Seems to me that they're the ones most likely to have fun w/it. But the soldier and other unsettling art may not be quite right for today's littles.

Is it a book for artistically inclined educators (incl. parents & librarians)? Sure, but I suspect they'd pick the same nit I do the counting should have continued somehow, as there are two shoes showing in the image that hits the 'two' spot in the page count, then three on the next, but not four on page 'four'.

If you like books that are different, and subversive, and 'retro' you might like this. Preview it before sharing with children.

[Sue Mosher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, pretty weird.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look carefully at the illustrations in this nearly wordless book. Shoes are well hidden. Very cleverly done.

[Bloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

No mata, però fa transformacions divertides de les sabates

[Catarina Magalhães · Rating 4 out of 5]

Com apenas 2 páginas com texto, é um livro que leva as crianças a explorar as imagens, de forma a encontrarem em cada uma delas os sapatos, que se escondem cumprindo uma série de funções (em animais e em objectos), tornando toda a experiência pedagógica e lúdica.

[Melainebooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Encore de sublimes illustrations de Tomi Ungerer autour des chaussures !!

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concept of this, even if some of the shoes were questionable. Cool idea, love the dated drawing and art style.

[Davin Thompson-williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an interesting concept. I loved how shoes were hidden in every picture. I also found it funny that the shoe was right under the guy's nose. Good book it keeps the reader alert.

[Slaa!!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Niftily Python-esque!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally counts toward the challenge, shut up! :)