Luigi and the Barefoot Races

by Dan Paley, Aaron Boyd (Illustrations)

On Regent Street in Philadelphia, stories are still told of Luigi, who could run faster than anybody and never lost a race on those long-ago summer evenings when neighbors would gather on front stoops to watch. They say Luigi always ran barefoot. And they speak of his greatest challengethe race nobody thought he could win, not even Luigi himself.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 8, 2015

About the author

Dan Paley is the author of Luigi and the Barefoot Races, illustrated by Aaron Boyd, and Rubio and Julienne, A Sweet and Cheesy Tale, illustrated by Lauren Gallegos. They Hold the Line: Wildfires, Wildlands, and the Firefighters Who Brave Them is forthcoming from Chronicle Kids (September, 2023.) He also contributed to New Rules Next Week: Corita Kent's Legacy through the Eyes of Twenty Artists and Writers. Dan is a contributor to Ranger Rick Magazine. His essays have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Science Writer, and he has written humor for McSweeney’s Internet Tendency.

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute story. I love the way the author tells the story. You can really feel Luigi's emotions throughout the story. I love the ending!! There is also a great section in the back of the book about Philadelphia and what a tall tale is. A great resource for teaching tall tales besides the typical stories used!!

[Honesty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free from goodreads firstreads. The book tells the inspiring story of Luigi. The pages are glossy and colorful. My son loves this book.

[Terry Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book free from goodreads.

Luigi and the Barefoot Races tells the story of a young boy, Luigi, a young lad who outruns all the children in his neighborhood. They all run barefoot. No one has even beaten Luigi in a race and he is certain no one ever will. That is until a boy from another neighborhood dares him to a race. The race is neck to neck till they close in on the finish line. Luigi Wins! The other boy is extremely mad he didn't win and dares Luigi to race someone else without knowing who it will be. Luigi accepts the dare. The next day the boy arrives on time with the other racer where upon setting eyes on him, Luigi gulps and loses his confidence. The other racer is known through the town as being mean. Everyone is afraid of him, even Luigi. However, the race must go on. Luigi knows there is no way he will be his opponent but he accepted the dare and will follow through. Finish line nears and Luigi gives it all his effort and wins the race! The townspeople cheer him on and the children hoist him up in revere .

I read this book to two of my grandsons last night. The don't sit still long to hear a story but they did this time. Their ages are 3 1/2 and 6. This is such a delightful story and my grandsons eyes were glued on the illustrations . They loved the story so much that they asked me questions about it as I read. They've asked me to read it again tonight! I gave it 5 stars because it is captivating, and interesting story to young children, and the colored pictures were wonderful. A good bedtime story, just long enough.

I did not hide this due to spoilers because I doubt young children are reading book reviews online, although one never knows :-)

[Gayle Slagle]

Luigi and the Barefoot Races by Dan Paley is a delightful children's book about Luigi, a young boy living in Philadelphia, who loves to run without shoes and is the fastest kid in his neighborhood until he faces a challenge he is not sure he can win. This tall tale is both charming and humorous and delights the reader on every page. The illustrations by Aaron Boyd are a treat for the eyes and the mind and compliment the story beautifully. At the end of the book there is the extra added attraction of information about Philadelphia, tall tales, and famous American tall tales. There are also suggestions for follow-up activities. This information is both educational and interesting.

[Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved loved! Perfect for children and adults alike. My daughter and her friends really enjoyed the story. The author really brings you right into the "race". Fun, yet has a suspenseful element. Who is the opponent? Who will win? This book should belong in every child's home library. This is a must read!

[Joshua Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great throwback to the kinds of stories I loved to read growing up in the 70's and 80's. Dan Paley tells his tale with a fantastic swirl of drama and humor and artfully sets the stage for a final reveal that will have you smiling for sure.

[Maya]

Great writing with the classic feel of the best kinds of children's stories. The author beautifully captured a sense of time, place, and one really fast kid. It even includes a surprise twist at the end.

I do think that a different illustrative style would have been a better match for the story.

Companion read: "The Quickest Kid in Clarksville" by Pat Zietlow Miller and Frank Morrison.

To give you a sense of the book's style, here is the first page:
"In summer, when the heat of the day lingers in the brick row homes on Regent Street, children play outside for as long as their parents let them. Parents sit outside too, talking with their neighbors about the good old days as they crack sunflower seeds and drink home-made iced tea. Boys and girls gather in the street for their favorite summertime sport: barefoot races."

[Sandralk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this delightful book from a Goodreads giveaway. This story for kids of all ages!

Luigi is a fast barefoot racer and is both a neighborhood favorite and a winner. Then he is challenged to race against one of his biggest fears.

In addition to enjoying this story is the beautiful artwork on each page.

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review on SLC.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story with a surprise ending about the barefoot racers from Philadelphia. Lots of back matter on tall tales.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, perfect way to introduce kids to the idea of tall tales!

[Rani · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fastest runner, Luigi, retains his title in a big way!