Sue has lost her lovely shoe
in the thick and tall bamboo.
There's a party at the zoo.
She can't go with just one shoe!
The Lost Orange Shoe is a rhyming picture book about Sue the Blue Kangaroo who has just moved to the zoo. Unfortunately, she has lost one of her orange shoes during the move. While searching for her shoe, Sue runs into a sign about a party at the zoo. Did anyone think of inviting her? For one reason or another, no one can go to the party, unless ...
Sue helps the animals get ready for the party, and along the way, she solves a few puzzles and makes a few friends.
The Lost Orange Shoe, was selected EDITOR’S PICK by BookLife.
“Problem-solving and tongue-twisting rhymes power this delightful debut.” —BookLife by Publisher’s Weekly
Children who have a hard time learning all the different ways the oo sound can be spelled, will enjoy this book and become expert spellers, spelling oo with oo, oe, ough, ue, ou, wo, ut, u, ew, or just o.
If you can't get enough of Sue the Blue Kangaroo, there is also an activity book in the series. It includes coloring pages, games, a crossword puzzle, and a word search about the same adorable characters from The Lost Orange Shoe.
The Lost Orange Shoe, and The Lost Orange Shoe - Activity Book are the first two books in the Sue the Blue Kangaroo series from Blue Sue Books publishing house.
Shirin Hashemi is the illustrator of The Lost Orange Shoe.
A quick summation of the plot of Kind's delightful debut suggests how its playful, densely nested rhymes read on the page—and will enliven storytime. There’s a party happening at the zoo, but Sue, the blue kangaroo, won't be able to attend, as she has lost her shoe, which traveled to Timbuktu … and, perhaps inevitably, even Peru. Soon, Cuckoo Lou (with the big tattoo) flies in to request help for some friends, declaring, with Seussian flair, “Boo has twin red / boo-boos, Sue. Boo-boo one / and boo-boo two.” Fortunately, problems like that can be helped if Sue gathers some "tall bamboo” and crafts solutions. Full of humor, fun animal characters, lively verse that’s a joy to read aloud, and a warm lesson about being helpful to others, The Lost Orange Shoe is a tongue-twisting pleasure. Kind's short lines and rapid rhymes are a joy, as Sue patiently tackles problems faced by her amusing friends: Hippo Pou, who has ripped her tutu right before a big performance; Lou’s nephew Boo, who needs a bamboo crutch; and on and on. Celebrating innovative thinking, crafty ideas, and patience within friendship, Kind showcases the truth that helping others sometimes leads to helping yourself as Sue makes smart use of the bamboo, making a canoe so that Moo can cross a river, or using it to make stew for her sick friend named—wouldn’t you know it!—is Chu.
Shirin Hashemi’s crisp, appealing character design deepens the fun, with each animal boasting memorable details (Sue’s scarf, sneezy dog Chu’s monogrammed hanky, Pou’s pink tutu) and big, relatable emotions that drive home the beats of the story. Taking in the drawings proves as much fun as speaking lines like “Pou has torn her tutu, Sue. / Right before her big debut!” Also included: fun guided questions to check for comprehension and to further engage young readers with Sue's tale.
Takeaway: Problem-solving and tongue-twisting rhymes power this delightful debut.
Comparable Titles: Eve Bunting's Have You Seen My New Blue Socks?, Sarah Seung-McFarland's Where The Lost Things Go.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B+
