A simple but powerful story on the value of a gift. I read this book with my son and we had a wonderful discussion on the lives of other children in distant lands and the value we place on material objects. I could see it made him reflect deeply.

Kato is a boy who lives in a small Ugandan village. He is a poor but happy boy who wakes at dawn to get the family their supply of daily water. When he returns to the village square he stops to peek in the aid-worker's truck where he sees something amazing—brand-new pairs of shoes! Kato does not own any shoes, but this young boy does not take things for granted and manages to find something beautiful to trade for them.

With few words and illustrations that use earth tone colors with splashes of bright, patterned ones, this book conveys a heartwarming story about a boy who, despite living in a country ravaged by a generation of civil war and drought, can find joy in the gift of shoes and likewise show gratitude. This story opened up many questions for my eight-year old son. Where does the aid-worker get the things to give to the village? Can we also send shoes to children in Africa who are barefoot?

The best discussion we had though was about materialism and appreciating what we already have without always wanting more. It's a good lesson from the book that isn't forced or thrown at the child reading it, but beautifully illustrated by Kato and his simple and touching actions. A truly beautiful book!

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