Because of a Shoe, Julie Fogliano
Because of a Shoe, Julie Fogliano
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Because of a Shoe

Author: Julie Fogliano

Narrator: Caroline Hewitt

Unabridged: 4 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/03/2026

Synopsis

Everybody has tantrums (kids and moms) in this tender yet funny audiobook about an especially impossible-to-put-on pair of shoes—from New York Times bestselling author Julie Fogliano and three-time Caldecott Honor winner Marla Frazee, creator of The Boss Baby.

Even when it’s time to put on our favorite shoes and leave the house, and even when that time turns into a tantrum where someone can’t stop screaming, or flopping on the floor, or throwing a shoe across the room, and someone is making their maddest face and everyone else is waiting . . . Even then, nothing can come between the loving bond of a mother and their child. Not even a shoe.

With expressive text from bestselling author Julie Fogliano, here is a story that takes listeners through a downward spiral of a shoe-inspired tantrum and is a reminder that even in moments of frustration, we are always our most loveable selves.

About The Author

Julie Fogliano is the New York Times bestselling author of And Then It’s Spring and If You Want to See a Whale and several other picture books including Just In Case You Want to Fly, When’s My Birthday, and If I Was the Sunshine. Recipient of the 2013 the Ezra Jack Keats award, her books have been translated into more than ten languages. Julie lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband and three children.Marla Frazee is the recipient of a Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Picture Book and a three-time Caldecott Honor winner. She has illustrated many acclaimed picture books, including All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, Stars by Mary Lyn Ray, and Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers, as well as her own Farmer Books trilogy, A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever, and The Boss Baby, which inspired the DreamWorks Animation film. She is also the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Clementine chapter books by Sara Pennypacker.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Cindy on January 22, 2026

Parents who have young children who absolutely do not like to wear shoes will appreciate the humor in this adorable picture book. Sometimes the shoes are too tight. Sometimes the shoes are too loose. The hilarious illustrations of the tantrum that ensues with this little character will be ones that......more

Goodreads review by Dylan on February 09, 2026

Fogliano and Frazee encapsulate the essence of the emotional roller coasters of adult/child relationships. The text is relatable for both children and the adults that care for them; the illustrations are realistic and add depth and richness - Frazee captured every emotion perfectly with her lines, h......more

Quotes

★ "[A] compassionate picture book....the creators affirm that love persists through emotionally overwhelming moments, and that one can go back to putting one foot in front of another—shod or otherwise." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "Unequivocal love shines through this relatable picture book." —Booklist, starred review

★ "An outstanding reminder that we are all emotional beings, and that for all their smaller bodies, children’s feelings are as big and intense as any adult’s." —School Library Journal, starred review

"A funny, wrenching affirmation of a parent’s unconditional love." —Kirkus Reviews

"Fogliano’s stream-of-consciousness, one-continuous-sentence text details a parent’s frustration with a recalcitrant child—but also their mutual unconditional love....Throughout, both text and art portray the situation with authenticity and understanding—and welcome flashes of humor." —The Horn Book

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