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Juno Valentine #1
Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes
Juno Valentine's favorite shoes don't light up. They don't have wheels. They are, to be perfectly honest, the tiniest bit boring. But they're still her favorite muddy-puddle-jumping, everyday-is-an-adventure shoes. One day, when they go missing, Juno discovers something amazing: a magical room filled with every kind of shoe she could possibly imagine!
Juno embarks on an epic journey through time and space, stepping into the shoes of female icons from Frida Kahlo and Cleopatra to Lady Gaga and Serena Williams. Each pair of shoes Juno tries brings a brand new adventure--and a step towards understanding that her very own shoes might be the best shoes of all.
Parents and children alike will adore Instagram superstar Eva Chen's precocious debut picture book--a story that's equal parts fashion fairy-tale and guide to girl power--and fall in love with the brilliantly spirited Juno Valentine.
Juno embarks on an epic journey through time and space, stepping into the shoes of female icons from Frida Kahlo and Cleopatra to Lady Gaga and Serena Williams. Each pair of shoes Juno tries brings a brand new adventure--and a step towards understanding that her very own shoes might be the best shoes of all.
Parents and children alike will adore Instagram superstar Eva Chen's precocious debut picture book--a story that's equal parts fashion fairy-tale and guide to girl power--and fall in love with the brilliantly spirited Juno Valentine.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published November 6, 2018
11 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
November 12, 2018
While I appreciated the complete and utter feminism in this book, it doesn’t lend itself well to story times and required a lot of explanation. Better for older kids.
December 25, 2018
This was really cute and made my grinchy heart so overjoyed. I loved the story and the illustrations. Juno just stole my heart with her shoes and her girl power lessons.
Badass females unite..... but not in Cinderella’s shoes.
Badass females unite..... but not in Cinderella’s shoes.
February 10, 2019
Oh, you are gonna love Juno and all her magical shoes. This is a great book for fashion loving kids. It also gives a little prompting to explore the biographies of some of history's wonderful women. Read this book!
November 6, 2018
When Juno Valentine heads to her closet for her favorite pair of shoes, only to find that they have gone missing, the young girl is at first dismayed. Although a little plain, her shoes are just right for her. Then she falls through a magical portal at the back of her closet and gets to try on the shoes of many famous women, from Queen Elizabeth I of Britain to celebrated Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. It's a fabulous experience, and leads Juno to alter her own white shoes, when she finds herself back home...
A picture-book debut from both author Eva Chen, who is head of fashion partnerships at Instagram, and illustrator Derek Desierto, a freelance artist and animator, Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes offers a sweet little tale about taking inspiration from some of the women trailblazers of world history, as well as figures from contemporary culture. The artwork is colorful and cute, capturing the fun of Juno's magical adventure. Recommended to young fashionistas in particular, who will undoubtedly enjoy it.
A picture-book debut from both author Eva Chen, who is head of fashion partnerships at Instagram, and illustrator Derek Desierto, a freelance artist and animator, Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes offers a sweet little tale about taking inspiration from some of the women trailblazers of world history, as well as figures from contemporary culture. The artwork is colorful and cute, capturing the fun of Juno's magical adventure. Recommended to young fashionistas in particular, who will undoubtedly enjoy it.
December 5, 2018
Review originally published on my blog
Nine Pages
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This was an odd one for me. Juno is searching for her own favorite shoes, plain white Keds, when she discovers a magical portal to a magical closet filled with shoes from historical women which, when she puts them on, transform her into the women who owned the shoes. Or that’s how it seems. There’s not a whole lot of explanation about what is happening to Juno or about the women themselves. I would have liked to have this be a very long story about Juno overcoming with these women the trials that they faced both in their climb to greatness and then once that greatness had been achieved. What I got was a line each about one quality that helped each woman succeed. And I suppose in its way that that’s its own positive message, but it was not what I expected, and it wasn’t the story that I wanted—because it was really not much of a story. This was not about overcoming adversity but about possessing certain qualities—and shoes. This book supports in part the idea that clothes make the woman, and while I understand that Eva Chen is a fashion director, a former editor-in-chief of the fashion magazine Lucky, and a former beauty and health director for Teen Vogue, it’s not the message that I want to send to children who may not be able to afford or who may not be interested in owning the shoes that are chic for their chosen profession. It closes with Eva changing her own shoes to reflect her experiences in the shoes of and her present in the footsteps of these powerful women. In the back, there is a page with a bit more about each of the women, but the picture book itself really is the type of story that only works if you already know the figures. In short, I think the book, the idea had a lot of potential that it didn’t live up to because it didn’t go far enough. As an introduction to influential women of history, it is far from the best that I have seen, and right now, there are a lot of fish to choose from in that pond. There are better, more comprehensive books even for younger audiences. Had this been printed another year, several years earlier, I probably would have rated it more highly because it would have been filling a need. It does have a more creative plot than many of the other books about influential women for children that I can think of which are often written more as encyclopedias than stories, but it slides past those women’s experiences in favor of the protagonist’s to the point that only a foreknowledge of the women gives the women context.
This was an odd one for me. Juno is searching for her own favorite shoes, plain white Keds, when she discovers a magical portal to a magical closet filled with shoes from historical women which, when she puts them on, transform her into the women who owned the shoes. Or that’s how it seems. There’s not a whole lot of explanation about what is happening to Juno or about the women themselves. I would have liked to have this be a very long story about Juno overcoming with these women the trials that they faced both in their climb to greatness and then once that greatness had been achieved. What I got was a line each about one quality that helped each woman succeed. And I suppose in its way that that’s its own positive message, but it was not what I expected, and it wasn’t the story that I wanted—because it was really not much of a story. This was not about overcoming adversity but about possessing certain qualities—and shoes. This book supports in part the idea that clothes make the woman, and while I understand that Eva Chen is a fashion director, a former editor-in-chief of the fashion magazine Lucky, and a former beauty and health director for Teen Vogue, it’s not the message that I want to send to children who may not be able to afford or who may not be interested in owning the shoes that are chic for their chosen profession. It closes with Eva changing her own shoes to reflect her experiences in the shoes of and her present in the footsteps of these powerful women. In the back, there is a page with a bit more about each of the women, but the picture book itself really is the type of story that only works if you already know the figures. In short, I think the book, the idea had a lot of potential that it didn’t live up to because it didn’t go far enough. As an introduction to influential women of history, it is far from the best that I have seen, and right now, there are a lot of fish to choose from in that pond. There are better, more comprehensive books even for younger audiences. Had this been printed another year, several years earlier, I probably would have rated it more highly because it would have been filling a need. It does have a more creative plot than many of the other books about influential women for children that I can think of which are often written more as encyclopedias than stories, but it slides past those women’s experiences in favor of the protagonist’s to the point that only a foreknowledge of the women gives the women context.
February 4, 2019
Juno Valentine is running late and can't find her favorite shoes. While looking in her closet, she is transported to a room filled with shoes. When she tries on different pairs, she magically becomes various famous women such as Cleopatra, Frida Kahlo, Oprah Winfrey and more. When she gets back to her room, she is inspired to add some magic to her favorite shoes.
I really wanted to love this after hearing the author talk about it as a guest on one of my favorite podcasts, "Forever35." She seems so cool and her Instagram is awesome. However, this book is kind of disappointment. I love the premise of being able to experience what it is like to be various awesome women throughout history, but the writing is uneven and it feels like there are missing pages. The story just doesn't flow well. I love the illustrations overall, but the story is about shoes and the illustrations of the shoes are too small. You can hardly see them. Also, it bothers me a bit that Juno feels like she needs to add sparkle to her favorite shoes when she gets back from her journey when before they were her favorite just as they were. Overall, this picture book is just okay.
I really wanted to love this after hearing the author talk about it as a guest on one of my favorite podcasts, "Forever35." She seems so cool and her Instagram is awesome. However, this book is kind of disappointment. I love the premise of being able to experience what it is like to be various awesome women throughout history, but the writing is uneven and it feels like there are missing pages. The story just doesn't flow well. I love the illustrations overall, but the story is about shoes and the illustrations of the shoes are too small. You can hardly see them. Also, it bothers me a bit that Juno feels like she needs to add sparkle to her favorite shoes when she gets back from her journey when before they were her favorite just as they were. Overall, this picture book is just okay.
December 2, 2021
Juno loves shoes and just inside her wardrobe she steps into a magical closet of shoes, shoes, and more shoes! (The magic portal in the closet reminded me of C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.) As she tries each pair on, they transport her to the life of the shoe's owners which happen to all be famous and accomplished women from the ancient past, to artists, royalty, scientists, and athletes.
I really enjoyed the take and perspective of this book. It really is a woman empowering book as all the shoes are significant for the women they represent. There is even a mention of Cinderella, but her shoes are boring and aren't practical for much (I agree). I appreciated this as little girls are into princesses so much, but this book shifts their attention into a new direction. Each famous woman is briefly mentioned so it would be a good kick off for children to look further into the women mentioned. The last page of the book as a summarized list of them and what they are known for.
I really enjoyed the take and perspective of this book. It really is a woman empowering book as all the shoes are significant for the women they represent. There is even a mention of Cinderella, but her shoes are boring and aren't practical for much (I agree). I appreciated this as little girls are into princesses so much, but this book shifts their attention into a new direction. Each famous woman is briefly mentioned so it would be a good kick off for children to look further into the women mentioned. The last page of the book as a summarized list of them and what they are known for.
March 7, 2019
What an adorable book about shoes and empowerment.
December 19, 2018
Juno Valentine loves getting dressed and ready for her day. She's running late, though, because she can't find her favorite shoes. But way back in the very depths of her closet, a place where she never ventures, she finds an enormous collection of shoes. When she tries them on, they all fit and take her to exotic and far-off places as she walks briefly in the shoes of 14 different women. But all adventures must come to an end, and she comes back down to earth after a brief walk on the moon and as a prima ballerina. She draws inspiration from these groundbreaking women to embellish her own shoes. I liked the idea for this book, and I'm glad there are snippets about each of the women, including Cleopatra, Gloria Steinem, and Serena Williams, in the back matter since I doubt that most young readers would have any idea about whom they are. The illustrations seem to have been created digitally and show up well against the white background. While clothing and footwear are important to someone's identity, I tend to aim toward comfort myself. It might have been interesting to include a footnote as to how the author chose these groundbreaking women.
December 27, 2019
Another fabulous adventure in the magical close. This time Juno is looking for her favorite shoes. They were plain and not outrages like her friends. She ended up in a closet full of shoes, I wish that happened to me. I'm such a shoe lover for life. As she went through her adventure, she was able to try on fabulous shoes from iconic women in history. Juno had fun playing dress up. After her adventure she found her shoes and saw that they were a little boring. She used a little splash of all the shoes she tried on and made her shoes sparkly. I loved the illustrations and the guide to groundbreaking women shoes. It describes who each women was that Juno resembled when trying on the shoes. Fun book for all those fashion lovers.
December 26, 2018
Que cuento mas bonito, admiro mucho a Eva Chen desde que la descubrí por accidente en Instagram, para mi es la combinación perfecto entre ejecutiva, madre, fashion blogger, esposa y ahora emprendedora.
En este cuento perfecto para niños para mi te habla sobre la admiración a otros, como se supone que vemos sus vidas y sobre todo como podemos aprender de los demás y crear nuestro propio destino.
Muy recomendado para los más pequeños.
En este cuento perfecto para niños para mi te habla sobre la admiración a otros, como se supone que vemos sus vidas y sobre todo como podemos aprender de los demás y crear nuestro propio destino.
Muy recomendado para los más pequeños.
December 3, 2019
What a cute book!! I'm just picky about art, so that's the reason for the 4 stars, but this was so cute and a great subtle way to incorporate history, play, and empowerment. :)
August 25, 2023
I have been a fan of this book for a while now. Other reviewers have said that it does not lend itself well to a storytime and they are right. Indeed, I don't ever intend to try it in one because I know it just won't work. What draws me to this book is the female empowerment to be found....and SHOES. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a shoe person. (Yes, I will even wear heels to drive the Bookmobile)
It's the story of Juno who doesn't think she, or her shoes, are anything special. So she interacts with the shoes of women throughout history--Cleopatra, Frieda Kahlo, and others. Yes, there is a decidedly liberal slant....but honestly, there are golden nuggets to be gleaned. Regardless of personal feelings, women like Oprah and Hilary Clinton have had major milestones in women's history.
As to the shoes, well, those are such fun!!
It's the story of Juno who doesn't think she, or her shoes, are anything special. So she interacts with the shoes of women throughout history--Cleopatra, Frieda Kahlo, and others. Yes, there is a decidedly liberal slant....but honestly, there are golden nuggets to be gleaned. Regardless of personal feelings, women like Oprah and Hilary Clinton have had major milestones in women's history.
As to the shoes, well, those are such fun!!
January 21, 2019
Every so often you pick up a book at random, you have no expectations about it, and when you open it, you are awed. This picture book is one such book. It is an unexpected exploration of female heroes from all walks of life and the lucky girl who literally got to walk in their shoes.
April 1, 2023
Un libro perfecto para visibilizar a las mujeres y sus logros
February 10, 2019
Juno Valentine is late for school and cannot find her favorite shoes! While they aren’t the fanciest shoes like the other kids at school, she still loves them. While searching, she falls into a magical world inside her closet. A never-ending room filled with shoes! She tries on many pairs and literally steps into the shoes of many groundbreaking women and feminist icons. From Cleopatra, Frida Kahlo, Gloria Steinem, Marie Curie and many others.
Thanks to the help of her dog, Juno finally finds her shoes. However, she finds her pair quite boring after living in all of these different women’s shoes. So, she decides to add a little magic to her favorite shoes. Pulling inspiration from these iconic women, Juno creates the “most un-boring shoes” she has ever seen. The final page features a close up shot of Juno’s shoes next to her mother’s shoes, conveying that women not only draw inspiration and acceptance from empowering female icons, but from their own mothers as well.
Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes is a wonderful modern feminist fairy tale about self-love and self-acceptance. We draw our power from the women who have paved the way for us. I especially loved the passage where Juno realizes that Cinderella’s shoes are not very comfortable but Serena William’s shoes are. It made me chuckle and I think it’s a great message against the Disney princess narrative.
Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes is the first book by fashion icon Eva Chen who took inspiration from her daughter to write this story. The writing in the story was good but not wonderful. I wish that Chen provided more information about the feminist icons mentioned. On the page, you just see Juno dressed as the icon with their name displayed on the page. I am aware of these icons so I did not really need more information, but for young children it would be beneficial. At the end of the story, there is a small biography written about each of the women, however, I wish it was included in the text.
The digital illustrations by Derek Desierto were very unique and fit the story perfectly. Despite a couple issues, I would still recommend this book to all young readers. This book could be a great opportunity to start a conversation from parent to child about feminism and feminist icons.
Thanks to the help of her dog, Juno finally finds her shoes. However, she finds her pair quite boring after living in all of these different women’s shoes. So, she decides to add a little magic to her favorite shoes. Pulling inspiration from these iconic women, Juno creates the “most un-boring shoes” she has ever seen. The final page features a close up shot of Juno’s shoes next to her mother’s shoes, conveying that women not only draw inspiration and acceptance from empowering female icons, but from their own mothers as well.
Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes is a wonderful modern feminist fairy tale about self-love and self-acceptance. We draw our power from the women who have paved the way for us. I especially loved the passage where Juno realizes that Cinderella’s shoes are not very comfortable but Serena William’s shoes are. It made me chuckle and I think it’s a great message against the Disney princess narrative.
Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes is the first book by fashion icon Eva Chen who took inspiration from her daughter to write this story. The writing in the story was good but not wonderful. I wish that Chen provided more information about the feminist icons mentioned. On the page, you just see Juno dressed as the icon with their name displayed on the page. I am aware of these icons so I did not really need more information, but for young children it would be beneficial. At the end of the story, there is a small biography written about each of the women, however, I wish it was included in the text.
The digital illustrations by Derek Desierto were very unique and fit the story perfectly. Despite a couple issues, I would still recommend this book to all young readers. This book could be a great opportunity to start a conversation from parent to child about feminism and feminist icons.
May 1, 2025
Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes by Eva Chen follows the story of Juno, a young girl with a love for fashion who discovers a magical pair of shoes. When she puts them on, she is transported to different historical periods where she meets iconic women who have made a huge impact in the world. Through these adventures, Juno learns about confidence, kindness, and the power of following her dreams. With the help of her magical shoes, she explores history in a fun and inspiring way, showing young readers the importance of believing in themselves and making their mark on the world.(CHAT GPT,2025)
This book is a delightful mix of fun, fashion, and learning, making it a perfect read for young girls. The concept of magical shoes is engaging, and Juno is an energetic and curious protagonist whose adventures are both exciting and educational. I love how the book introduces young readers to diverse, historical female figures, from Cleopatra to Frida Kahlo, showing that women from all walks of life have made significant contributions to the world. The illustrations are vibrant and full of personality, matching the lively tone of the story. It's a fantastic way to inspire young readers to dream big and embrace their individuality, while also learning about important historical figures in a way that feels approachable and fun.
Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes is an ideal book for young readers in grades K-2. It introduces history, fashion, and the idea of role models in a playful and engaging way. Teachers can use this book as a springboard to discuss famous women in history and how they shaped the world. Students can also explore the themes of confidence and individuality, perhaps by creating their own “magical” adventures or designing outfits inspired by the women Juno meets. This book can be used to inspire young girls to see themselves as capable of achieving great things and encourage them to pursue their passions confidently.
This book is a delightful mix of fun, fashion, and learning, making it a perfect read for young girls. The concept of magical shoes is engaging, and Juno is an energetic and curious protagonist whose adventures are both exciting and educational. I love how the book introduces young readers to diverse, historical female figures, from Cleopatra to Frida Kahlo, showing that women from all walks of life have made significant contributions to the world. The illustrations are vibrant and full of personality, matching the lively tone of the story. It's a fantastic way to inspire young readers to dream big and embrace their individuality, while also learning about important historical figures in a way that feels approachable and fun.
Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes is an ideal book for young readers in grades K-2. It introduces history, fashion, and the idea of role models in a playful and engaging way. Teachers can use this book as a springboard to discuss famous women in history and how they shaped the world. Students can also explore the themes of confidence and individuality, perhaps by creating their own “magical” adventures or designing outfits inspired by the women Juno meets. This book can be used to inspire young girls to see themselves as capable of achieving great things and encourage them to pursue their passions confidently.
January 3, 2025
I didn't find the story interesting. It's just a bunch of name dropping and trying on shoes for the whole book but the story doesn't talk about who any of the women actually were or how they were/are influential.
The only thing this author has in her books is the guide in the back of the book to say something about the people. Why isn't that in the actual story?
Also, if every other woman is a real person how did Cinderella get on the list? It seems very out of place.
I don't really like the illustration style. It's done like scrapbooking. Instead of drawing the hair texture or the clothing design they are just placed in empty frames the shape of what they need to be -- like a coloring book that you filled in with pictures from a magazine rather than coloring. I mean, it is a different style but it just seems lazy.
Nothing stood out to me in this story.
---
words that might be new for young readers:
cornucopia
---
Random women named (but nothing about them mentioned other than their names):
Cleopatra, Frida, Queen Elizabeth I, Anna Wintour, Jane Goodall, Yayoi Kusama, Oprah Winfrey, Gloria Steinem, Lady Gaga, Marie Curie, Cinderella, Serena (Williams), Sally (Ride), Misty (Copeland)
The only thing this author has in her books is the guide in the back of the book to say something about the people. Why isn't that in the actual story?
Also, if every other woman is a real person how did Cinderella get on the list? It seems very out of place.
I don't really like the illustration style. It's done like scrapbooking. Instead of drawing the hair texture or the clothing design they are just placed in empty frames the shape of what they need to be -- like a coloring book that you filled in with pictures from a magazine rather than coloring. I mean, it is a different style but it just seems lazy.
Nothing stood out to me in this story.
---
words that might be new for young readers:
cornucopia
---
Random women named (but nothing about them mentioned other than their names):
Cleopatra, Frida, Queen Elizabeth I, Anna Wintour, Jane Goodall, Yayoi Kusama, Oprah Winfrey, Gloria Steinem, Lady Gaga, Marie Curie, Cinderella, Serena (Williams), Sally (Ride), Misty (Copeland)
March 18, 2019
Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes by Eva Chen, illustrated by Derek Desierto. PICTURE BOOK. Feiwel & Friends, 2018. $19. 9781250297266
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW
Juno can’t find her favorite shoes, a pair of basic white sneakers, as she gets ready for school. She discovers magic in her closet as the deeper she goes, the more magical shoes she discovers. She tries on several pairs and is able to dance like a famous ballerina or walk on the moon. Finally she finds her shoes and discovers that they are now colorful with little bits from all the shoes she tried on.
This book fell pretty flat. The illustrations are lovely, but the story never really grabbed our attention. I also didn’t love that the first part of the book defended wearing the kind of shoes you want, and then the ending of the book expressed a need to wear exciting shoes.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW
Juno can’t find her favorite shoes, a pair of basic white sneakers, as she gets ready for school. She discovers magic in her closet as the deeper she goes, the more magical shoes she discovers. She tries on several pairs and is able to dance like a famous ballerina or walk on the moon. Finally she finds her shoes and discovers that they are now colorful with little bits from all the shoes she tried on.
This book fell pretty flat. The illustrations are lovely, but the story never really grabbed our attention. I also didn’t love that the first part of the book defended wearing the kind of shoes you want, and then the ending of the book expressed a need to wear exciting shoes.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
November 28, 2018
3.5 STARS - I bought this for my goddaughter for Christmas and just had to have a read before wrapping it!
Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes is a really cute story that introduces the reader to many important women throughout history. I love the meaning behind the book, and adored the illustrations.
I did feel like some major parts were skipped, though - the story didn’t flow too well, and there wasn’t a ton of explanation about who these women were and what they did. There is a page at the back that covers all of that, and I wish that information was included throughout the book so I was introduced to each character as they came up, not after the fact. It didn’t make too much of a difference to me because I am already familiar with all of the names, but I imagine many children reading this aren’t!
Still super cute and a great gift for any little girl!
Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes is a really cute story that introduces the reader to many important women throughout history. I love the meaning behind the book, and adored the illustrations.
I did feel like some major parts were skipped, though - the story didn’t flow too well, and there wasn’t a ton of explanation about who these women were and what they did. There is a page at the back that covers all of that, and I wish that information was included throughout the book so I was introduced to each character as they came up, not after the fact. It didn’t make too much of a difference to me because I am already familiar with all of the names, but I imagine many children reading this aren’t!
Still super cute and a great gift for any little girl!
January 24, 2024
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While looking for her favorite shoes, Juno is transported into a magical consortium featuring the shoes of famous women. She tries on the shoes of Frida Kahlo, Sally Ride, Misty Copeland among others, until finally finding the perfect fit, taking inspiration from her magical journey.
Loved the concept. Great artwork. A fun way to celebrate powerful women throughout history.
I loved the variety of women covered in the book. There are athletes, artists, musicians, activists, scientists, and more. Nice mix of contemporary and historical figures. At the back is a short guide to the women covered in the book and some of the things they were known for.
Works especially well for kids who like fashion and dress-up.
While looking for her favorite shoes, Juno is transported into a magical consortium featuring the shoes of famous women. She tries on the shoes of Frida Kahlo, Sally Ride, Misty Copeland among others, until finally finding the perfect fit, taking inspiration from her magical journey.
Loved the concept. Great artwork. A fun way to celebrate powerful women throughout history.
I loved the variety of women covered in the book. There are athletes, artists, musicians, activists, scientists, and more. Nice mix of contemporary and historical figures. At the back is a short guide to the women covered in the book and some of the things they were known for.
Works especially well for kids who like fashion and dress-up.
December 13, 2018
A nicely illustrated picture book that tells the story of Juno, who goes looking for her favorite shoes but instead is transported to a place where she see the shoes of famous women (Jane Goodall, Serena Williams and many others). Juno sort of walks in their shoes for a time gaining a bit of insight into these famous women's lives.
I love the concept of the book but think that the biographical information (brief synopses at the back) is going to be lost on a child in the age range for reading this picture book. While the goal was commendable, it will take an older child to appreciate the accomplishments of these women. The book does little more than plant names in the heads of children in the targeted age range.
I love the concept of the book but think that the biographical information (brief synopses at the back) is going to be lost on a child in the age range for reading this picture book. While the goal was commendable, it will take an older child to appreciate the accomplishments of these women. The book does little more than plant names in the heads of children in the targeted age range.
November 18, 2021
Juno can't find her shoes in her closet. In her hunting, she accidentally finds a portal in the back of the closet and suddenly finds herself in a magical hall filled with all sorts of shoes. She starts trying on shoes, which make her feel like famous women of the past and present.
This is a whirlwind intro to famous women (both real and imaginary) through shoes and a little girl exploring a teensy bit of who she wants to be. I feel like this has potential for an all out chapter book story. (It actually reminds me a bit of 100 Dresses by Schmidt, but with shoes...and less plot.) In picture book form this felt a bit rushed. Cute, and very colorful. Hand this readers who like their plots zippy fast.
This is a whirlwind intro to famous women (both real and imaginary) through shoes and a little girl exploring a teensy bit of who she wants to be. I feel like this has potential for an all out chapter book story. (It actually reminds me a bit of 100 Dresses by Schmidt, but with shoes...and less plot.) In picture book form this felt a bit rushed. Cute, and very colorful. Hand this readers who like their plots zippy fast.
August 28, 2019
Gee whiz do we really need to push little girls to be fashionistas? Isn't there enough of that in our society already? Sorry but I don't think it is appropriate. Not surprisingly the author Eva Chen's primary occupation is in fashion so it makes sense for her to create little shopping addicts. I understand that Chen has included a lot of historical female innovators in the book and the book might be said to be about creativity, but for me that doesn't overcome the primary premise. Please note this is not a book children can read on their own as the child will not be familiar with the women mentioned in the book and thus not understand the illustrations.
January 7, 2019
This is a fun book for fans of fancy and plain shoes. I do think the end result of this will probably be kids drawing on their own shoes, which isn't always a welcome addition for parents. I think the author would have been better off picking 3 women so the story could incorporate more of their stories/journeys. As it is, the main character races through tons of trailblazers without leaving an impression of any of them to someone who doesn't already know who they are. This could be a fun opportunity to lead readers to explore children's biographies, however.
December 12, 2018
Juno can't find her favorite shoes. She searches everywhere. Suddenly, she sees a bright sparkling light deep in her closet. She discovers all sorts of famous women's shoes. She tries them on and gets to experience life as these women. At the end, she decides the best person to be is herself though she does add some pizzazz to her shoes.
Terrific openings to talk about various women in history.
Terrific openings to talk about various women in history.
January 9, 2019
This book is absolutely delightful and a must-read for any budding fashionista or history buff! My seven year old daughter loved it and I personally loved the strong female leaders highlighted. I highly recommend for all readers- not just girls, but certainly, it most appeals to those who love fashion a lot. Read Book Reviews at http://thebookdarling.com
March 16, 2019
A cute story, but it doesn't explain who the famous women are who are referenced in the book (until the notes at the end). However, my daughter squealing with delight at the mere mention of Lady Gaga made this worth the read. A good read, but maybe not for younger kids who won't get the references.
May 26, 2019
We love this book about a little girl who ends up learning about all kinds of fascinating women by trying on their shoes. We learned a lot of interesting facts. The illustrations compliment to story well.
Check out Johanna and Leeanne reading this book on their YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/oZdrvyps3sI
Check out Johanna and Leeanne reading this book on their YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/oZdrvyps3sI
November 20, 2019
As a fan of history, I was really excited to see a book that is inspired women of different eras. My favorite part was the illustrations of the shoes because they have a lot of print and textures that are really fun to picture or play with in your mind. I think this would be a good read aloud book for all elementary grades.
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