While this is a very beautifully illustrated book, I can't help but think that it is a bit abstract to be a useful guide for shoe tying.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book isn't quite what I expected. When it said "handbook" i expected there to be some lessons and teaching. Not just encouragement. It was okay though as long as you go in knowing that it isn't actually anything instructional.

First things first: this book will not teach anyone how to tie a shoe! If you're looking for a book to instruct children on how to tie shoes, this is not the book you want. If, however, you'd like a beautifully illustrated book that can help ease anxieties about learning new things, this is your book. It's geared more toward kids who've likely learned how to tie there shoes already, about elementary age I'd say. The black and white illustrations are done in a sketchy style, and the text throughout the book are hand-drawn, often blending in with the artwork in an interesting and pleasing way. Children are shown doing kid stuff- playing in sprinklers, eating spaghetti, getting engrossed in the pattern on a rug, etc. Amongst all these various adventures, tying your shoes is another adventure, nothing to worry about. I would've really liked this book when I was a kid, but I've always been a sucker for gorgeous illustrations!

#HowtoTieaShoe #NetGalley

The black and white drawings are fun and interesting. And I love the messages of friendship in the last half of the book. Those pictures are pretty special.

I'm not a huge fan of the hand drawn text, though, because it is not as easy to read. It reminds me of the way I used to draw letters when I was in elementary school and sometimes feels like it is detracting from the pictures. In some pictures, the text blended in way too much with the illustrations.

The story is a fun adventure and full of imagination, and I am sure that a lot of kids will relate to how one thing can make you think of something else, in a kind of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie kind of a way. But it seriously has nothing to do with learning how to tie your shoes. And I think a lot of people are going to get this book, thinking it is actually a primer on tying shoes, and will be disappointed when it is not.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing me with a requested review copy of this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My Review: If you have ever been around little kids, you will know teaching how to tie a shoe is not the easiest thing in the world. I expected this book to have fun and easy ways to tie shoes and the like, however it was not exactly an instructional book. Even though it doesn't really teach you how to tie a shoe, it is a really good book that helps with the anxiety of learning and teaching. I love how this book compares learning to tie a shoe with other things that seem intimidating but turn out to be really easy, like twirling spaghetti on a spoon, or greeting old friends after not seeing them for a long time. I love the concept of this book and honestly would have liked more.

My Rating: Even though this wasn't exactly the book I was expecting, it turned out to be something pretty special. I wasn't a huge fan of the illustration style but the idea is still conveyed nicely. I give it a rating of Three Paws.

I'm really confused with this book. There were parts that were cute and encouraging to kids, but it felt all over the place.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Skip Hill
Publisher: Penny Candy Books
Publication Date: 10 Mar 2020

A picture book that is whimsical and poetic, How to Tie a Shoe doesn't actually give you a step by step guide to accomplish this task. Instead, readers are given a list of adventures that most children embark on (like camping, finding a bird's nest, going back to school after summer break) and told if you can do all those things, then surely you can tie your shoe! To me, the story simply provides encouragement and expresses the excitement of new or comforting activities.
Children will love the illustrations and fun lettering. The story also does a great job of stirring up the excitement a kid feels about returning to school or spending a long Saturday playing.
A fun book for both children and adults which will resonate for different reasons.

Thanks to Penny Candy Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. How to Tie a Shoe is scheduled for release on March 20, 2020.

Uh I just don't get it. The sketches are beautiful but I can't imagine my kids enjoying this book since the message isn't very cohesive.

This is an interesting book, but I was expecting something about HOW to tie a shoe. I don't see it as fitting into a children's library unless the budget is really big. However, it would make a very nice present for someone who is in to poetry.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

I thought this book would help a child understand how to tie their shoes but its more a book of encouragement encouraging them that if they can do all the things a child may find scary or unsure of, then they can tie their shoes by themselves too.
The artwork is beautiful and I loved that it was all in black and white too.
A lovely book, just not what I expected

How To Tie a Shoe is an interesting book comparing several relatable things to the ability to tie shoes. The book basically goes “If you have ever....then you can tie your shoes. First do.....(this non shoe related thing), and this....(non shoe related thing)” I felt that a few of the examples we were asked to think about were very obscure, I was surprised that when it got back to “how to tie the shoes” it would ACTUALLY tell how, but it never does. Some of the pencil sketches are really great, while others are borderline creepy.

**Thank you NetGalley for an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review**

The first thing you should know about this picture book for kids is that it won't teach them how to tie a shoe. :) Instead, this is a sweet, relatable poem to kids about experiences like seeing a friend at school again after a long summer vacation, finding your way back through the woods in the dark by bird songs, and eating spaghetti. It's illustrated with very artistic black and white line drawings (think of the way we draw when we use circles and lines again and again to flesh out the shape of something, rather than one stark perfect line) and whimsical text. This reminds me a bit of The Genie in the Jar (picture book) by Nikki Giovanni, with sweet poetry that kids will enjoy as long as they can get into the spirit of it. This would also be good to read to get kids used to the many styles of poetry besides standard rhymes.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.