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Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown?
Join a young boy affectionately known as Mr. Brown as he searches for his shoes across the family farm in this first picture book from social media icon and author of The Rooted Life, Justin Rhodes.
Gideon, the second youngest child of homesteaders Justin and Rebekah Rhodes, is infamously known as the shoe-losing "Mr. Brown." It drives his papa nuts, especially when it’s time to head out to do chores on the farm. Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown? is an engaging story that follows Mr. Brown as he searches for his missing shoes, bringing a humorous message about responsibility along with an underlying theme of a parent's love. Justin and Rebekah are parents to five children and involve the them in much of the work on the farm to teach values of hard work, problem solving, and life skills like growing their own food.
Gideon, the second youngest child of homesteaders Justin and Rebekah Rhodes, is infamously known as the shoe-losing "Mr. Brown." It drives his papa nuts, especially when it’s time to head out to do chores on the farm. Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown? is an engaging story that follows Mr. Brown as he searches for his missing shoes, bringing a humorous message about responsibility along with an underlying theme of a parent's love. Justin and Rebekah are parents to five children and involve the them in much of the work on the farm to teach values of hard work, problem solving, and life skills like growing their own food.
- GenresChildrensPicture Books
32 pages, Hardcover
Published March 14, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 22, 2023
I really appreciate the love the father in this story shows for his child. From Justin Rhodes’ author’s note at the end of the book it sounds as though the book is based on a true story. The book seems to have more of a message for the parents than for the kids - sometimes spending time with your kids is more important than teaching them a lesson.
Mr. Brown is the nickname of the child main character of Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown? He can’t find his shoes so Papa carries Mr. Brown on his back while doing the farm chores, just so Papa can spend time with Mr. Brown.
Heather Dickinson created beautiful illustrations which go beyond the text and add to the story. I appreciate the details she added to the pictures.
Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown? would be a good addition to the picture book section of a K-12 Christian school library.
I received a complimentary copy of Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown? This is my honest review.
Mr. Brown is the nickname of the child main character of Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown? He can’t find his shoes so Papa carries Mr. Brown on his back while doing the farm chores, just so Papa can spend time with Mr. Brown.
Heather Dickinson created beautiful illustrations which go beyond the text and add to the story. I appreciate the details she added to the pictures.
Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown? would be a good addition to the picture book section of a K-12 Christian school library.
I received a complimentary copy of Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown? This is my honest review.
February 28, 2023
Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown? is a sweet book that illuminates the fine balance between a dad teaching his son a life lesson and simply enjoying time with him.
The son misplaces his shoes and even though the rest of the family searches with him, they’re nowhere to be found. He can’t do chores on the farm barefooted, so Papa finds a solution that allows them to spend quality time together.
Some children might be a little confused that the son is referred to as Mr. Brown (rather than the dad.)
The illustrations are charming and the story oozes with warmth. I love how the story promotes familial bonding.
First Lines: “Rise and shine,” Papa called. “There’s lots of work to do on the farm today.”
Genre: Children’s Farm Life
Author: Justin Rhodes
Page Count: 32
Reading Age: 4-7
#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.
The son misplaces his shoes and even though the rest of the family searches with him, they’re nowhere to be found. He can’t do chores on the farm barefooted, so Papa finds a solution that allows them to spend quality time together.
Some children might be a little confused that the son is referred to as Mr. Brown (rather than the dad.)
The illustrations are charming and the story oozes with warmth. I love how the story promotes familial bonding.
First Lines: “Rise and shine,” Papa called. “There’s lots of work to do on the farm today.”
Genre: Children’s Farm Life
Author: Justin Rhodes
Page Count: 32
Reading Age: 4-7
#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.
April 8, 2023
4.5 stars
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
Scripture Connection
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord…"
Psalm 127:3
Spiritual Themes
Although this title isn’t an overtly Christian work, my understanding is that the author is a Christian. Last year, I reviewed his book The Rooted Life, and one commonality I observe between that nonfiction work and this picture book is a strong emphasis on family. In this time period, this is such an important theme, and I so appreciate that the author is setting an example of caring for his family, both in the homesteading lifestyle, and in the books he writes.
This title stands out among other picture books, because, while it tells a cute story for the kiddos, it is also very much directed toward parents. There’s a note at the end of the book where Rhodes talks about making the (sometimes difficult) decision to enjoy quality time with his children, during moments that could otherwise prove frustrating. This is an awesome message for parents, and I could also see this book providing a springboard for discussion between parents and children. I think the different audience emphasis is really neat!
Story
First off, “Mr. Brown” is not a grown man, but a little boy. I also enjoyed reading about why Mr. Brown thought his shoes might be in certain peculiar locations. For instance, he had to check if his shoes were on the roof, because he likes to throw them up there, sometimes. (What?) These made for humorous moments in the story, but also felt perfectly authentic. I’m fairly certain these explanations were based on things that the real Mr. Brown does.
The family interactions, throughout the story, were sweet, too! We see the family enjoying breakfast together, for example, and Mr. Brown’s sister offers him her shoes to wear. Most of all, the story focuses on the father-son interaction between Mr. Brown and his dad as the two hunt for the shoes.
Illustrations
The illustrations, like the narrative, are very sweet. Clearly based on Justin Rhodes, the papa in the story has the same hat and goatee. The farm animals are absolutely adorable, and the style of the artwork feels gentle—perfectly befitting the pastoral setting. I especially liked that we see shoes tucked away in a few of the pictures, making for a fun hidden-object discovery.
Recommendation Status
Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown stands out among picture books, in that the message is very pointedly for parents. I really appreciate that Rhodes’ books emphasize loving, committed family relationships, and that they feature the homestead setting. I live at MeadowArc, a very young food forest, and it’s so cool to read about homesteading!
Recommended as a family read-aloud. Followers of Justin Rhodes’ popular YouTube channel may also take an interest in this cute story.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
Scripture Connection
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord…"
Psalm 127:3
Spiritual Themes
Although this title isn’t an overtly Christian work, my understanding is that the author is a Christian. Last year, I reviewed his book The Rooted Life, and one commonality I observe between that nonfiction work and this picture book is a strong emphasis on family. In this time period, this is such an important theme, and I so appreciate that the author is setting an example of caring for his family, both in the homesteading lifestyle, and in the books he writes.
This title stands out among other picture books, because, while it tells a cute story for the kiddos, it is also very much directed toward parents. There’s a note at the end of the book where Rhodes talks about making the (sometimes difficult) decision to enjoy quality time with his children, during moments that could otherwise prove frustrating. This is an awesome message for parents, and I could also see this book providing a springboard for discussion between parents and children. I think the different audience emphasis is really neat!
Story
First off, “Mr. Brown” is not a grown man, but a little boy. I also enjoyed reading about why Mr. Brown thought his shoes might be in certain peculiar locations. For instance, he had to check if his shoes were on the roof, because he likes to throw them up there, sometimes. (What?) These made for humorous moments in the story, but also felt perfectly authentic. I’m fairly certain these explanations were based on things that the real Mr. Brown does.
The family interactions, throughout the story, were sweet, too! We see the family enjoying breakfast together, for example, and Mr. Brown’s sister offers him her shoes to wear. Most of all, the story focuses on the father-son interaction between Mr. Brown and his dad as the two hunt for the shoes.
Illustrations
The illustrations, like the narrative, are very sweet. Clearly based on Justin Rhodes, the papa in the story has the same hat and goatee. The farm animals are absolutely adorable, and the style of the artwork feels gentle—perfectly befitting the pastoral setting. I especially liked that we see shoes tucked away in a few of the pictures, making for a fun hidden-object discovery.
Recommendation Status
Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown stands out among picture books, in that the message is very pointedly for parents. I really appreciate that Rhodes’ books emphasize loving, committed family relationships, and that they feature the homestead setting. I live at MeadowArc, a very young food forest, and it’s so cool to read about homesteading!
Recommended as a family read-aloud. Followers of Justin Rhodes’ popular YouTube channel may also take an interest in this cute story.
June 4, 2023
Where Are Your Shoes?, Mr. Brown is a farmer themed children’s book all about a missing pair of shoes that everyone is searching for. There is a lot of work that is needed to be completed around the farm and of course the little boy can’t find his shoes when they are desperately needed. Sometimes the shoes would be hiding in his closet and sometimes they would be nowhere. He thought they at first might be located on the roof. The boy would sometimes get a wild hair and throw them up there. Mr. Brown and his papa looked on the roof and couldn’t find them. They looked near the creek, the barn, lettuce patch, chicken coop, and many more fun places. His sister even tried to let him borrow hers and they wouldn’t fit. His father finally carried him on his back everywhere while his papa worked. They completed wheel barreling tasks, picking the garden, feeding the pigs, watering the crops, and much more. The book showed a father and son enjoying the company of each other and his papa knew it wouldn’t last forever.
I would recommend this remarkable book about a father and son bonding to children aged 1-8. I liked how the book showed a family enjoying a meal together and being together as a family. It also showed a father truly loving on his kid and carrying him around, protecting him, and assisting him with trying to find his lost shoes. You didn’t see the father beating his son down with negative words or giving him a difficult time when he lost his shoes again. Even though the son regularly loses his shoes, he didn’t shame him. I thought this was a wonderful example of a father’s love and the Heavenly Father’s love to us. I loved how it was based off of true story on Youtube’ star, influencer, and homesteader. They take care of a 75 acre’s farm as a family. His son really does struggle with losing his shoes. This book is an excellent teaching moment between a father and son and children will learn a lot from it.
I would recommend this remarkable book about a father and son bonding to children aged 1-8. I liked how the book showed a family enjoying a meal together and being together as a family. It also showed a father truly loving on his kid and carrying him around, protecting him, and assisting him with trying to find his lost shoes. You didn’t see the father beating his son down with negative words or giving him a difficult time when he lost his shoes again. Even though the son regularly loses his shoes, he didn’t shame him. I thought this was a wonderful example of a father’s love and the Heavenly Father’s love to us. I loved how it was based off of true story on Youtube’ star, influencer, and homesteader. They take care of a 75 acre’s farm as a family. His son really does struggle with losing his shoes. This book is an excellent teaching moment between a father and son and children will learn a lot from it.
June 13, 2023
A rooster belts out the morning's big "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" alarm to set this adorable picture book story in motion. There's lots of work to do on a farm, but the farmer's son, whom he calls Mr. Brown, can't find his shoes--again. And you can't do chores without shoes.
I love the first page's illustration of the just-awakened young "Mr. Brown" scratching his head and looking perplexed, like "I don't know where in the world anything could be." But we don't know his shoes are missing until breakfast. And, apparently, Mr. Brown losing his shoes is a common occurrence. Thus begins Mr. Brown's farm-wide bare-footed hunt for his shoes: On the roof? "Sometimes I throw them into the air," he explains,"and they land on the roof." Nope, not there. Good repetition as Dad keeps asking, "Where are your shoes, Mr. Brown?" and other family members join the search, coming up with amusing possibilities, including in the lettuce patch, even under the chickens in the coop. Charming soft-color illustrations show the farm animals getting in on the hunt, too.
Mr. Brown really wants to help with the chores, and, faced with the prospect of having to spend the day inside if he can't find his shoes, he asks his dad to let him help, piggyback. A collage of various piggyback-chore illustrations follow--no text needed. The loving father-son relationship comes through clearly in the illustrations as well as this touching exchange: "'Am I too heavy?' Mr. Brown asks." To which his father replies, "No, you're just right."
An author's note at the end of this book, apparently based on a true story, cements the takeaway regarding the importance of maintaining a balance between teaching responsibility and just spending time together.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review. Opinions expressed are solely my own.
I love the first page's illustration of the just-awakened young "Mr. Brown" scratching his head and looking perplexed, like "I don't know where in the world anything could be." But we don't know his shoes are missing until breakfast. And, apparently, Mr. Brown losing his shoes is a common occurrence. Thus begins Mr. Brown's farm-wide bare-footed hunt for his shoes: On the roof? "Sometimes I throw them into the air," he explains,"and they land on the roof." Nope, not there. Good repetition as Dad keeps asking, "Where are your shoes, Mr. Brown?" and other family members join the search, coming up with amusing possibilities, including in the lettuce patch, even under the chickens in the coop. Charming soft-color illustrations show the farm animals getting in on the hunt, too.
Mr. Brown really wants to help with the chores, and, faced with the prospect of having to spend the day inside if he can't find his shoes, he asks his dad to let him help, piggyback. A collage of various piggyback-chore illustrations follow--no text needed. The loving father-son relationship comes through clearly in the illustrations as well as this touching exchange: "'Am I too heavy?' Mr. Brown asks." To which his father replies, "No, you're just right."
An author's note at the end of this book, apparently based on a true story, cements the takeaway regarding the importance of maintaining a balance between teaching responsibility and just spending time together.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review. Opinions expressed are solely my own.
February 23, 2023
“Can I tell you a secret? I’m glad I couldn’t find my shoes,” the young boy explains in Justin Rhodes’s children’s book, Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown?
~ What ~
This thirty-two-page oversized hardbound with a matching jacket cover targets children ages four to seven years old. With no scary scenes, it is about a boy who keeps losing his shoes but finds a fun way to still help on the family farm. Fun and detailed colorful illustrations cover the pages with a decent font size.
This charming tale is about a boy named Mr. Brown who chronically loses his shoes. When his father asks him to help do the chores on the farm, he must find his shoes first. But he cannot find them in his bedroom, on the roof, by the creek, near the cow, in the garden, or in the hen house. Even his sister offers her shoes to no avail. Papa comes to the rescue with the ideal solution, and both are happy with the outcome.
~Why ~
This is a lovely tale that shows how much a father loves his son by helping him. I loved the effort the two made together to get the work done. The story promotes that the most important thing is time shared together. The artwork is engaging and will hold young ones’ attention.
~ Why Not ~
Those who do not like a read about a father acquiescing to his son’s issues may not like this book. Beginner readers may have problems with the two- and three-syllable words.
~ Wish ~
It took a while to realize that Mr. Brown is a young boy and not the father.
~ Want ~
If you want an adorable story about a way to share farmwork together, this is a keeper.
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, WorthyKids, and the author for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.
~ What ~
This thirty-two-page oversized hardbound with a matching jacket cover targets children ages four to seven years old. With no scary scenes, it is about a boy who keeps losing his shoes but finds a fun way to still help on the family farm. Fun and detailed colorful illustrations cover the pages with a decent font size.
This charming tale is about a boy named Mr. Brown who chronically loses his shoes. When his father asks him to help do the chores on the farm, he must find his shoes first. But he cannot find them in his bedroom, on the roof, by the creek, near the cow, in the garden, or in the hen house. Even his sister offers her shoes to no avail. Papa comes to the rescue with the ideal solution, and both are happy with the outcome.
~Why ~
This is a lovely tale that shows how much a father loves his son by helping him. I loved the effort the two made together to get the work done. The story promotes that the most important thing is time shared together. The artwork is engaging and will hold young ones’ attention.
~ Why Not ~
Those who do not like a read about a father acquiescing to his son’s issues may not like this book. Beginner readers may have problems with the two- and three-syllable words.
~ Wish ~
It took a while to realize that Mr. Brown is a young boy and not the father.
~ Want ~
If you want an adorable story about a way to share farmwork together, this is a keeper.
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, WorthyKids, and the author for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.
June 1, 2023
PLEASE READ THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG: https://bookreadingtic.com/2023/06/01... THANK YOU!
Making Memories Every Day!
Mr. Brown is a little boy who can't keep track of his shoes. He and his family search many places, but do not find them. His sister loans him her boots, but they are too big for him.
Since Mr. Brown lives on a farm, he can't run around it barefooted. Not wanting to stay in the house, Mr. Brown begs his dad to let him ride on his shoulders while he does chores around the farm. His dad agrees to it. He and Mr. Brown have a great time together while getting work done.
In the end, Mr. Brown, who really could not find his shoes, is glad he couldn't because he was thrilled to spend the day with his dad.
This is a sweet story of the love between a father and his child. This tale shows you don't have to do something special to make good memories. In this case, everyday tasks are used to make a great day for Mr. Brown and his dad. Readers will love looking at the pictures of the shoe search, because if they look closely, they can find them!
This oversized, five-star, picture book contains colorful illustrations that add to the story. Happy feelings abound while reading this, and it would make a lovely gift for Father's Day or any other time. Children through six-years-old will enjoy this delightful tale!
The author, Justin Rhodes, is a homesteader who lives off the land in North Carolina with his family--the inspiration for his stories. He has a widely popular YouTube channel.
Thank you, Worthy Kids, for providing Tickmenot with a book to review. Opinions are my own.
Making Memories Every Day!
Mr. Brown is a little boy who can't keep track of his shoes. He and his family search many places, but do not find them. His sister loans him her boots, but they are too big for him.
Since Mr. Brown lives on a farm, he can't run around it barefooted. Not wanting to stay in the house, Mr. Brown begs his dad to let him ride on his shoulders while he does chores around the farm. His dad agrees to it. He and Mr. Brown have a great time together while getting work done.
In the end, Mr. Brown, who really could not find his shoes, is glad he couldn't because he was thrilled to spend the day with his dad.
This is a sweet story of the love between a father and his child. This tale shows you don't have to do something special to make good memories. In this case, everyday tasks are used to make a great day for Mr. Brown and his dad. Readers will love looking at the pictures of the shoe search, because if they look closely, they can find them!
This oversized, five-star, picture book contains colorful illustrations that add to the story. Happy feelings abound while reading this, and it would make a lovely gift for Father's Day or any other time. Children through six-years-old will enjoy this delightful tale!
The author, Justin Rhodes, is a homesteader who lives off the land in North Carolina with his family--the inspiration for his stories. He has a widely popular YouTube channel.
Thank you, Worthy Kids, for providing Tickmenot with a book to review. Opinions are my own.
March 14, 2023
Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown? by Justin Rhodes is a beautifully illustrated (Heather Dickinson) fun book to read with young children. This book is a dust-jacketed hardcover children's book aimed at young children under age seven that is 32 pages long. It measures about 9 1/2 inches by 10 inches in size--an especially fun size for reading together.
Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown? is written by a popular YouTube homesteader that I honestly wasn't familiar with before reading this book. However, I think this book has some great messages for both young children and their parents/caregivers. I love that this book is written from the point of view of the father. I don't see as many books with Dad as the main character. Mr. Brown is his young son in this book. Rhodes and his wife have five children, which all show up in the beautiful watercolor illustrations of the family on their homestead. Throughout the story, the father and the boy travel around the farm looking for his shoes--past the cows, chickens, garden and more.
At the back of the book, there is a note from the author where he shares his joy in being a father and some of the joys and challenges of parenting. I think Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown? is a great book for both children and parents. I highly recommend it for families interesting in learning about the farm and the role of fathers/children.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.
Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown? is written by a popular YouTube homesteader that I honestly wasn't familiar with before reading this book. However, I think this book has some great messages for both young children and their parents/caregivers. I love that this book is written from the point of view of the father. I don't see as many books with Dad as the main character. Mr. Brown is his young son in this book. Rhodes and his wife have five children, which all show up in the beautiful watercolor illustrations of the family on their homestead. Throughout the story, the father and the boy travel around the farm looking for his shoes--past the cows, chickens, garden and more.
At the back of the book, there is a note from the author where he shares his joy in being a father and some of the joys and challenges of parenting. I think Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown? is a great book for both children and parents. I highly recommend it for families interesting in learning about the farm and the role of fathers/children.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.
March 13, 2023
A story about a little boy who apparently is easily side-tracked and scattered. The story is set at the family farm and a very busy farmer who happens to be the father of several children. The Dad calls the eldest son, "Mr. Brown," and it all begins when Dad announces he needs help with farm chores and Mr. Brown cannot find his shoes.
The search continues in the house, the roof, and all around the homestead. The illustrations are pretty and the reader could certainly have some learning moments with all the interesting scenes. Dad and son share a day of bonding and connecting - literally as Mr. Brown rides on Dad's shoulders all day. I don't read that the shoes were ever found.
I'm not sure I'd spend $18.99 on this book but as a read-aloud it would provide entertainment for those under the age of ten.
The search continues in the house, the roof, and all around the homestead. The illustrations are pretty and the reader could certainly have some learning moments with all the interesting scenes. Dad and son share a day of bonding and connecting - literally as Mr. Brown rides on Dad's shoulders all day. I don't read that the shoes were ever found.
I'm not sure I'd spend $18.99 on this book but as a read-aloud it would provide entertainment for those under the age of ten.
March 9, 2023
This book was given to me for review and I'm so glad I chose to read it! It is based off the author's adorable son, whom he calls Mr. Brown, and his real-life struggle to keep track of his shoes. As the farmer (dad) gets ready to do some work on the farm, his son can't find his shoes. But instead of getting upset and insisting the boy find his shoes, the dad decides to help Mr. Brown look for the shoes, as they go about their chores. He makes a fun adventure out of finding the shoes and even the siblings get in on the hunt. In the end, the boy has so much fun spending time with his dad and the dad handled the situation in a loving manner.
My granddaughters loved this story and I think it's a good choice for parents too.
My granddaughters loved this story and I think it's a good choice for parents too.
March 22, 2023
What a sweet, fun book! I said "awwww" at the end, and you will too!
The illustrations are so enjoyable. Little ones will enjoy the scenes and animals as you read this book together. Also if you look closely you can find some shoes hiding in the illustrations. I appreciate how the author gives the backstory for the name of the little boy (Mr. Brown) because that confused me at first when I started reading. This book is appropriate for early elementary aged children.
I received a copy of this book from Hachette group for my honest review. Thank you.
The illustrations are so enjoyable. Little ones will enjoy the scenes and animals as you read this book together. Also if you look closely you can find some shoes hiding in the illustrations. I appreciate how the author gives the backstory for the name of the little boy (Mr. Brown) because that confused me at first when I started reading. This book is appropriate for early elementary aged children.
I received a copy of this book from Hachette group for my honest review. Thank you.
March 2, 2023
A very sweet book with wonderful illustrations. Love that the book shows a farm and a big family. Only reason for not giving 5 stars is that the name of the featured child (mr brown) makes the book confusing in the beginning. The reason for the name is explained in the author note, so best to start there in my opinion.
March 21, 2023
Where Are Your Shoes, Mr. Brown, is an adorable book written and illustrated by the cunning Justin Rhodes. In this story, a young boy affectionately known as Mr. Brown searches for his shoes across the family farm. Involving adventure, exploration, fun, and creativity, it's always an experience when you include family, the farm, and newfound journeys.
February 28, 2023
Enjoyable Read!
March 19, 2023
This was a very cute book. My 5 year old great granddaughter loved it.
April 13, 2023
Why is the child's name "Mr. Brown" but the farmer's name "pop"?
June 7, 2024
This is a cute book. If you follow justin Rhodes on YouTube, you get to see his kids grow up and learn great farming tips.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews