Consumer Financial

Protection Bureau

MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB

Parent reading guide for

“Those Shoes” 

by Maribeth Boelts

 Ages 5–8
1 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB | Those Shoes

Welcome

This guide will help you teach your child money management 

skills while reading “Those Shoes” by Maribeth Boelts. It will do 

this by:

 Helping you explain the key ideas covered in the book, and 

then providing you with signs your child understands the key 

ideas and can use them in daily life. 

 Giving you things to think about before reading the book 

with your child. These can help you spot key points in the 

book or spark ideas to discuss later.

Helping you prepare for an enjoyable reading time with 

your child.

 Providing questions to talk about with your child.

 Suggesting activities that help your child put ideas and 

lessons into action.

Parent reading guide | Ages 5–8
2 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB | Those Shoes

The story

Jeremy wants a pair of shoes like the ones 

everyone at school seems to be wearing. His 

grandma has enough money to buy Jeremy a new 

pair of boots, not the shoes he wants. When his 

old shoes fall apart, Jeremy needs to make choices 

about what is important to him.
3 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB | Those Shoes

 Key ideas

By the time you finish this discussion guide, your child will be 

able to point to examples of these key ideas in the book you 

read and discuss real-life examples, too. Use these definitions to 

explain the ideas. We’ve also included ways children can show 

they are ready to use them in their daily lives.

1. Prioritizing

Sometimes we need to make choices about what we want or 

do. These choices can change from day to day. Prioritizing is 

arranging things in order of their importance to us.

How kids show it: They can prioritize choices when they want 

two or more things at the same time.

2. Sharing and borrowing 

There are two kinds of sharing: Something shared that does not 

have to be returned or paid for is a gift. Something borrowed or 

lent must be returned.

How kids show it: They can explain the difference between 

lending and giving something away.
4 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB | Those Shoes

3. Staying true to yourself

Sometimes we might feel left out if we don’t have what other 

people have. Knowing what’s important to you and not comparing 

yourself to others can help you feel good about your decisions.

How kids show it: They can name one special thing they like 

about themselves and one thing that makes each family member 

special too. (Ages 7+) They can discuss why it’s okay that 

different people use their money for different things.
5 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB | Those Shoes

 Something to think about

First, read the book yourself and think about these ideas:

§ Jeremy feels left out and wants to fit in with the rest of the 

boys in his class.

§ Jeremy's grandma has been saving money to buy him winter 

boots.

§ Jeremy and his grandma compare prices at the shoe store 

and thrift shop.

§ Jeremy chooses to spend his own money on the thrift shop 

shoes. Then he chooses to not wear the shoes because they 

are too small for him.

§ On his own, Jeremy gives the shoes to Antonio.

§ Jeremy wears his new boots at the end of the story and can 

play outside with his friend.
6 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB | Those Shoes

Before you read

Read the book first yourself. Knowing the story will help you know 

what comes next. It is important to ask your child questions about 

the story as you read. Ask what might happen next in the story.

§ Choose a quiet time for stories and make it part of your 

daily routine. 

§ Find a cozy, quiet place to read. 

§ Make sure your child can see the pictures. 

§ Talk about the pictures and characters in the book.

§ Read with expression in your voice. Give each character 

in the story his or her own voice. 

§ Keep the story time short enough to leave them wanting more.

§ Look for ways during the day to bring up the messages in 

the story.

§ Continue to read aloud together even if your child can 

read alone.
7 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB | Those Shoes

 Something to talk about

Before you begin to read the story with your child, look at the 

cover of the book together. Ask what the story might be about.

As you read the story with your child, talk about these ideas:

§ Jeremy really wants the black high tops with the two stripes. 

Why does he want them so badly? How is he feeling?

§ Grandma says there is no room for "want," there is only room 

for "need." What do you think she means?

§ Jeremy needs to wear a pair of shoes from the counselor at 

school. Why doesn't he like them? Have you ever had to wear 

something you didn't like but needed to wear? What was it?

§ Grandma saved money for Jeremy’s new boots. Have you 

ever saved money to buy something? How do you save money?

§ Grandma and Jeremy go to thrift stores. A thrift store sells 

secondhand clothes and other items. What is a good thing 

about these stores?

§ Grandma lets Jeremy make his own decision about buying 

the shoes. What kinds of decisions have you made?

§ Jeremy buys the shoes with his own money even though they 

are too small. Was this a good or bad idea? What would you do?
8 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB | Those Shoes

§ At first Jeremy doesn't want to give Antonio his shoes. Why 

was it hard for Jeremy to make a decision?

§ Have you ever given something to someone that they needed 

but didn't ask for? How did that feel?
9 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB | Those Shoes

 Something to do

Create a needs and wants chart Ages 5+

Create a list of needs your family has and a list of wants your family 

has. You can write words on a piece of paper, draw pictures, or cut 

pictures out of magazines or newspaper. Work together to sort 

the list or pictures into needs and wants. Talk about each picture 

as you sort them. What makes it a need or a want?

You and your child can each create your own list of needs and 

wants using the pictures. Sort the pictures, then each share your 

list and talk about the differences. What is different between 

your list and your child’s list? Do you have any of the same 

things? If so, what things?

Sharing with others Ages 5+

Have your child go through his or her toys, clothes, and other 

items. Set aside clothes that don’t fit or toys and books your 

child does not use anymore. This is a good way to clean up the 

child’s room together, too. While your child is making the pile, 

ask questions about each thing he or she sets aside. Where did 

it come from? How did you feel when you got it? How long did 

you use it for? Who do you think would like to use this now?
10 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB | Those Shoes

Talk about how to share your extra items with other people. 

Would you like to give away things to someone you know or to 

a local program? Some families also trade clothes and toys, or 

sell their items at a rummage sale or thrift store. 

Giving back to the community Ages 5+

Make a list of volunteer activities or ways that people can share 

and give in your community. Examples may include donating 

to thrift stores or helping to serve meals to others. Some stores 

have a jar on the counter to collect money for a good cause. 

Point out these different examples to your child and talk about 

the different ways people help each other. How do you feel 

when you help others? Has there been a time where other 

people helped your family? How did that feel?
11 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB | Those Shoes

About this guide

The Money as You Grow Book Club is a research-based program 

designed to help parents, caregivers, and others teach children 

ages 4 through 10 money skills through reading, activities, and play. 

The Money as You Grow Book Club is an updated version of 

the University of Nevada Extension’s Money on the Bookshelf 

program. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), The 

University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Financial Security, 

and the University of Wisconsin-Extension Family Living Programs 

have worked together to expand the program and make it 

available to libraries, educators, and parents nationally. 

The CFPB is an independent federal agency. We write and 

enforce rules that keep banks and other financial companies 

operating fairly. We also help educate and empower 

consumers. For more about tools and resources for parents, visit 

consumerfinance.gov/MoneyAsYouGrow. 

The Center for Financial Security is a research center that seeks 

to help the public build financial knowledge and skills, increase 

access to financial services and increase the financial security 

of families. The University of Wisconsin-Extension is part of the 

National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Cooperative 

Extension System, which brings vital, practical information to 

agricultural producers, small business owners, consumers, 

families, and young people.
To learn more about the Money as You Grow Book 

Club, or download other parent reading guides, visit 

consumerfinance.gov/MoneyAsYouGrow.

MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB

Ask about these other Money as You Grow Book Club books and 

parent guides. ISBNs for paperback versions are included below:

Consumer Financial

Protection Bureau November | 2016

Count on Pablo

by Barbara deRubertis

ISBN # 9781575650906

Cuenta con Pablo

by Barbara deRubertis

ISBN # 9781575651514

Curious George Saves 

His Pennies

by Margaret and H.A. Rey

ISBN # 9780547935768

Lemonade in Winter

by Emily Jenkins

ISBN # 9780375858833

My Rows and Piles of 

Coins

by Tololwa M. Mollel

ISBN # 9780395751862

Tia Isa Wants a Car

by Meg Medina

ISBN # 9780763657529

Tía Isa Quiere un Carro

by Meg Medina

ISBN # 9780606238014

The Rag Coat

by Lauren Mills

ISBN # 9780316574075