Four Feet, Two Sandals

Finalist for the Cybils Award 2007

‘Williams and Mohammed illuminate the plight of refugee children without preaching or pontificating…Earth tones predominate, reflecting the dusty environment while also offering, in some scenes, a sense of warmth…Touching and true to life.’ - Kirkus Reviews

When relief workers bring used clothing to the refugee camp, everyone scrambles to grab whatever they can. Ten-year-old Lina is thrilled when she finds a sandal that fits her foot perfectly, until she sees that another girl has the matching shoe. But soon Lina and Feroza meet and decide that it is better to share the sandals than for each to wear only one.

As the girls go about their routines - washing clothes in the river, waiting in long lines for water, and watching for their names to appear on the list to go to America - the sandals remind them that friendship is what is most important.

Four Feet, Two Sandals was inspired by a refugee girl who asked the authors why there were no books about children like her. With warm colors and sensitive brush strokes, this book portrays the strength, courage, and hope of refugees around the world, whose daily existence is marked by uncertainty and fear.