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A charming, playfully illustrated story about a boy who can't find his shoes one morning while getting ready for school.

The Cat Ate My Shoes is the humorous story of Diego, a boy who is getting ready for his first day of kindergarten and can't remember where he put his shoes. Instead of telling his father the truth, he tells a series of white lies to explain why his shoes are missing. Each explanation involves one of the family's pets (and, finally, the giant who lives in the backyard). The boy's patient father demonstrates why each explanation doesn't account for the missing shoes. When the boy finally admits that he doesn't know where his shoes are, his father tells him. In the end, he encourages his son to come up with a solution for knowing where his shoes are each morning.

Children will enjoy the humor in this story and will sympathize with Diego's dilemma. Repetitive phrases lend themselves to be read aloud with the adult. The story offers an opportunity for discussion between adult and child about lying, problem-solving, and facing your fears.