Four Feet, Two Sandals is a great children’s picture book about two Afghani refugees who become friends by sharing in a Pakistani refugee camp. Author Karen Lynn Williams gives this reason for partnering with Khadra Mohammed to write the book, “I was inspired to write this book when Khadra Mohammed came to me with the story about a refugee girl in the United States who wanted to know why there were no books about children like her.”
My wife got this book from the library. When I heard her reading it to our five year old daughter Lucy I was immediately drawn into the story. So I thought it would be fun to read it with Lucy as well and then interview her. Here is our interview.
Lucy, what did you learn about Afghanistan?
Lina had to run away with her mother and two brothers, but Feroza had to run away with her grandmother.
Why?
Because of the war.
How are these girls different than you?
They are dressed in different clothes.
How are they like you?
They shared. They moved to a different country. They like pretty shoes.
What did you like about the book?
How they become friends and share the sandals.
Is it a good book for other kids to read?
Yes, because you are learning about sharing.
If they moved next door how could we help them (one of the girls and her family move to America)?
We could share with them. And we could give them a Bible.
What kinds of things could we share with them? Could we share clothes?
Yes and we could give her more shoes.
What about friendship? Would you like to be Lina’s friend (Lina is the one who came to America)?
Yes and Feroza’s too.
Thanks to Lucy for being willing to be interviewed. In fact, she really enjoyed it and kept asking whether I was typing everything she said (full disclosure: I did edit some of her less focused and more wordy answers!).
Here is a video that explains more of the book.
