Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Shoe-tying tale is a happy lesson in persistence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In LOOPS, an excited young child has a brand-new pair of "big kid" lace-up shoes and is determined to prove they can handle them. The kid knows the steps: make loops, cross them, pull… ta-da! But as soon as one problem is solved, another pops up: the shoes are a little too big, keep slipping off, and seem to disappear at the worst possible moment. Through repeated attempts, the child learns that getting good at something takes practice, and that being kind to yourself is important.
Is It Any Good?
This warm, funny story nails what it feels like to be little and want to do something all by yourself but you don't quite have the skills yet. Loops, by Jashar Awan, talks directly to the reader in a lively and positive way. The repetition mirrors how real learning works: try, mess up, try again. There's a great reminder for adults about the value of play: When the child says that learning to be a big kid takes practice, the illustration is of the child zooming around a playground. The book also doubles as a practical shoe-tying helper, with clear visuals that break the process into manageable steps. A final-page twist makes the book itself a loop, a clever trick that will have little ones requesting repeat reads.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the child in Loops uses practice and positivity to keep going when tying shoes (and keeping them on your feet) feels hard. How do you feel when you're learning something new?
How does your body feel when you get frustrated, and what helps you persevere, or take a break and try again?
What "big kid" skills are you working on right now?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Jashar Awan
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Adventures
- Character Strengths : Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : March 3, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 48
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : April 23, 2026
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