Those Shoes Reading Comprehension Questions
by Maribeth Boelts
Book Summary
Jeremy, a young boy, desperately wants a pair of popular black high-top sneakers, but his grandma says they can't afford them. When his old shoes fall apart, he gets plain brown ones, which makes him feel embarrassed. Later, he finds a pair of the coveted black high-tops at a thrift store, but they are too small and hurt his feet. He then notices a classmate, Antonio, whose shoes are falling apart. Jeremy makes a kind choice to give his too-small, but desired, shoes to Antonio, learning that friendship and kindness are more important than material possessions.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 8 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about Those Shoes.
1.What kind of shoes did Jeremy really want at the beginning of the story?
2.Who told Jeremy they could only buy 'need' shoes, not 'want' shoes?
3.What happened to Jeremy's old shoes before he got new ones?
4.In the story, Jeremy felt 'embarrassed' by his plain brown shoes. What does 'embarrassed' mean?
5.Why do you think Jeremy decided to give his too-small black high-tops to Antonio?
6.What important lesson did Jeremy learn by the end of the story?
7.How do you think Antonio felt when Jeremy gave him the black high-top shoes?
8.What would you do if you really wanted something, but your family couldn't buy it right away?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from Those Shoes to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading Those Shoes with children.
What was your favorite part of Those Shoes? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from Those Shoes, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did Those Shoes make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend Those Shoes to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Maribeth Boelts wanted young readers to learn from this story?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is Those Shoes?
Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts is recommended for grades K-1 readers with an AR level of 2.6. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for Those Shoes?
ReadBuddy provides 8 carefully crafted comprehension questions for Those Shoes, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use Those Shoes for reading practice?
Read the book together or independently, then use ReadBuddy's comprehension questions to check understanding. Focus on vocabulary words, discuss character motivations, and encourage your child to make connections to their own experiences.
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