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Who is the main character in New Shoes?
Ella Mae is the main character
What does Ella Mae want at the beginning of the story?
She wants a new pair of shoes because her cousin Charlotte’s old ones don’t fit anymore
Who takes Ella Mae to buy shoes?
Her mother takes her.
What unfair thing happens when Ella Mae and her mother go to buy shoes?
The white girl in the store gets to try on shoes, but Ella Mae is told she can’t because she’s Black.
How does Ella Mae feel when she can’t try on the shoes?
She feels sad, angry, and embarrassed
What does Ella Mae’s mother do after the unfair treatment?
She stays calm and pays for the shoes anyway, showing dignity and strength.
What idea do Ella Mae and her friend Charlotte come up with?
They decide to collect and clean used shoes to sell to other Black families so everyone can try them on.
How do the girls get the shoes for their store?
They do extra chores, scrub floors, mind babies, and collect old shoes from neighbors that they have grown out of.
What do the girls want for a pair of shoes?
Ten cents and another used pair of shoes.
What lesson do Ella Mae and Charlotte learn by the end of the story?
They learn that they can make a change and help others even when the world is unfair.
What time period does this story take place in?
It took place during the time of segregation in the United States around the 1950s.
What were “Jim Crow” laws?
They were unfair laws that kept Black and white people separated and gave Black people fewer rights.
What color shoe polish did Charlotte want to use?
She claimed the red polish that reminded her of the red shoes in the store window.
What is the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
It made it illegal to discriminate against people because of their race, color, religion, or national origin.
How does Ella Mae’s mother show strength in the shoe store?
She keeps her dignity, speaks politely, and doesn’t let the store clerk see her anger.
What character trait best describes Ella Mae?
She is creative and determined
What does the shoe store represent in the story?
It represents unfair segregation and inequality.
What does Ella Mae’s shoe business represent?
It represents hope, community, and empowerment.
What do the clean, shiny shoes symbolize at the end?
They symbolize pride and fairness — everyone gets to feel special and equal.
What is the setting of the story?
A small Southern town in the United States during segregation.
How do Eric Velasquez’s illustrations help tell the story?
They show emotions and the time period clearly, helping readers feel what the characters feel.
What emotion do you think the illustrator wanted to show when Ella Mae looks down in the shoe store?
Sadness and shame caused by unfair treatment.
What does Susan Lynn Meyer explain in the author’s note?
She explains that the story was inspired by real events and the segregation laws that once existed in America.
What message does the author want readers to take away from the story?
That even small actions can help fight unfairness and create change.
Why did Susan Lynn Meyer write New Shoes?
She wanted to show how children can take action against injustice and help their community, even during difficult times.