Roscoe really, really loves his puppy shoes. They’re so soft! So comfy! So… PERFECT! When his puppy shoes get to be too small, it’s time for a new pair of dinosaur shoes. Dinosaur shoes?! Those shoes are different, and new things can be scary. It’s a good thing Roscoe’s gentle big sister Ivy knows how to help him get used to his new shoes.
The Story Behind My Dinosaur Shoes
The real puppy and dinosaur shoes pictured above
As toddlers, all of my kids reached a point where they began to refuse new shoes.
Their favorite character? Nope.
If I said they could pick any shoes out they wanted? No way.
Would they even try on the new shoes? No.
The pattern was as follows:
1) I introduce new shoes.
2) Shoes are thrown at me.
3) Repeat.
By the time kid #3 came along, I had gotten pretty good at thinking outside of the box. I knew there were no sensory issues with the shoes, because none of my kids had even tried them on before rejection.
I thought, maybe they just don’t like that the shoes are new? I put my theory to work.
My youngest had a pair of puppy Vans that he loved. I bought a similar style Vans, but a different animal in a bigger size…a dinosaur.
BOOK SPOILER ALERT COMING UP!
I put out the new shoes long before his feet outgrew the puppy shoes. Like, months before. My older kids were apprehensive and REALLY wanted my youngest to try the dinosaur shoes. Inevitably, he would scream and cry every time the dinosaur shoes were discussed. I made sure to tell them that he would pick the new shoes when he was ready (I really didn’t know if he would).
One glorious day, the puppy shoes were finally too small. I was nervous. I didn’t know what would happen. Lo and behold, I saw his tiny toddler hands reach out for the DINOSAUR shoes!
Even though this method worked in our home, I did have to continue using it until our youngest turned 5. At that point, new shoes weren’t as scary anymore.
Roscoe and Ivy return in the latest installment of this thoughtful series, which focuses on wearing shoes. Centered on a neurodivergent family, the story follows Roscoe, who has outgrown his old shoes but doesn’t want to give them up. “Ivy thinks the puppy shoes are too small. But they are NOT TOO small. Roscoe does NOT need new shoes.” With gentle guidance, Ivy helps Roscoe navigate his feelings using tools like a mood board and a tablet, until he’s ready to choose new shoes. A timeline at the end summarizes Roscoe’s progress.
VERDICT A strong addition from a neurodivergent author and illustrator that will resonate with many children and families.
-Brook Newberry, School Library Journal, January 2026