Les & Ronnie Step Out

by Andrew Kolb

Meet a left and right foot who are a pair of complete opposites! Full of clever, giggle-inducing details, this lively odd-couple tale celebrates what makes us all unique, as well as the power of friendship to bring us together despite our differences.
 
Feet come in twos, so they need to step out together. But Les and Ronnie often find it hard to cooperate. Les likes having a clean sock and being responsible. Ronnie is fine with a dirty sock and loves letting loose. Les is straight-laced while Ronnie doesn’t even care about laces. What’s a duo to do?

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Storytime, Humor

34 pages, Hardcover

First published September 26, 2017

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Les and Ronnie were two feet who couldn't have been more different, even though they were a pair. Les liked order and quiet, Ronnie was a wild child (or foot) who liked to boogie, and wasn't always the cleanest. Sometimes there was tension between the two. But when Ronnie sprained his ankle, and had to rest, Les discovered the joys of dancing while attempting to cheer his counterpart up...

Les & Ronnie Step Out is an entertaining friendship tale, one which uses an unusual pair - two feet - to explore ideas about individual character and personality and getting along with those who are a little different from us. Children will appreciate the humor in this story, and will be entertained by the colorful, amusing artwork. Recommended to anyone looking for friendship stories for the picture-book set, especially if they prefer somewhat quirky examples of the tale type.

[Audra PC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two polar opposites. One more reserved one bright and outgoing.

Until Ronnie is injured. Les in his own way tries to cheer up the other foot but to no avail. After trying several ideas les finally gives in and becomes more extravagant as his injured counterpart. Now both are happy and enjoying each others company.

My kids didn’t seem that invested in this story, however they were attentive. They audibly groaned at the laundry part as we had just finished folding and putting away our own, haha.

[Sherri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was too distracted by the fact that Les is NOT the left foot and Ronnie is NOT the right foot of the person they belong to. Some fun ideas about how differences don't have to mean you can't be friends and get along.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Les and Ronnie find it hard to cooperate. Since they are two feet it would be helpful if they liked the same things. Les is serious, responsible and always on time. Ronnie is none of those things, he's the type to put on whatever smells the cleanest. Les doesn’t like to try new things. Ronnie, of course, is the opposite. But one day there is an accident, Ronnie sprains an ankle. Will that be the beginning of a change?

Cons: Quite an odd story of opposites. Putting a face on each leg and making them opposites and able to fold laundry and sharpen pencils felt off to me. This is a theme that is beginning to feel overworked.

Pros: The illustrations, felt like they might be hard to create, but they were very unusual and well done. This is a story of differences and cooperation told in a way that kids should find fun to listen to.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a friendship book about differences. Les is the organized one, always neat and tidy. Ronnie is the outgoing, always got to be moving one. But wait, one is the left foot and one is the right foot, how is this going to work? Les has a weekly sock schedule, while Ronnie put on whatever smells the cleanest! But one day, Ronnie sprained his ankle and had to be quiet. Les loved it! Both were calm. Both were quiet. Both were bored. Find out how the learn to work with their differences.
The graphics practically tell the story without the words, making the story accessible to the youngest readers. A great introduction to getting along with others.

[Jj · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun and upbeat read about a pair of feet, who are basically The Odd Couple in foot form. It's about getting along with others who are different and have a fantastic shoe wardrobe. No, wait, it's also about learning to appreciate different ideas and try new things. As you may recall, Andrew Kolb has a fun illustration style and nice sense of humor that should work well with the preschool audience.

I enjoyed it and look forward to using it in storytime with kids soon. I will add this title to my shoe and sock storytime list!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another example of using simple objects to tell an important message. Who'd have thought you could use socks to teach about differences in personalities and likes/dislikes and trying new things from another's perspective??
Fun but simple full color illustrations "first with pencils then with pixels."

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book and it’s message, but it’s a bit odd. I thought based on the illustrations on the cover and throughout, that it was a pair of feet attached to one body. Nope. Each leg is independent of the other (kind of). One is strait laced, clean, and neat. The other likes to be wild and crazy. But an accident will make one side see that the other side is not so bad.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't tell whether this is 3 or 4 because it needs multiple readings. I do like the Right and Left of Les & Ronnie and imagine making the illustrations would have been difficult to make sure you didn't draw the wrong foot. I can see the humor may ring more clearly in Canada.

[Serenity · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet little picture book about two feet with very different personalities. A little lesson on friendship and appreciating our differences. The illustrations are colorful and quite vibrant. I think younger readers will enjoy it.

[Woody Chichester · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little corny, and I feel like they're both right feet, but Les and Ronnie is a neat little story about trying to put yourself in someone else's shoe (literally) that you are very different from.

Both of these feet had good, individual style, and i loved their socks.

[Annie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusual and unique illustrations. Not 100% sure what the moral of the story is but I still liked it a lot.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

What captured me was the facial expressions on the legs - and Les wearing swim goggles.

[Casandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about appreciating our differences.

[Michelle Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would definitely be fun in storytime.

Themes: friends, shoes, legs and feet

[Laurel Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable tale of two feet who come from very different cities and are forced to walk a mile in the other's steps.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when your matched pair are nothing alike? This is a wacky look at finding common ground even when you are very different.

[Yvonne O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of this month’s Bookroo selections. Two “Odd Couple” feet/legs and how an injury brings them together.

[Laura Aldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just the cutest story of an unlikely pair of feet.

Great read for kids to learn to understand the differences in others and why it can be such a good idea to try new things.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun and funny!

[Lindsay - Library Associate · Rating 3 out of 5]

The toes are so distracting!

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated this. Where are the bodies? Do other body parts also have separate consciousness and faces? This world makes no sense.

[Briana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two legs can't get along until one of them gets injured. A little slow and predictable, but also had a hard time thinking someone would want to wear non matching shoes all the time (premise was strange).