In Otto’s Shoes by Jesper K. Lassen — Book Review
In Otto’s Shoes by Jesper K. Lassen — Book Review
In Otto’s Shoes is a clever and beautifully simple children’s picture book built around a powerful idea: you cannot fully understand someone else’s experience until you try to see the world from their perspective.
The book tells the story of two boys, Bob and Otto, and an interaction involving a pair of shoes. What makes the book especially unusual is its structure. The story can be read from either side of the book. One direction presents Bob’s perspective, while turning the book over reveals Otto’s side of the same encounter. The words are the same, but the meaning changes depending on whose perspective the reader follows.
That design makes the book more than just a story—it becomes an interactive lesson in empathy, communication, and perspective-taking. Young readers are encouraged to notice that the same words and actions can mean something quite different when viewed from another person's position.
The illustrations are colorful, simple, and appealing, with expressive characters that help make the story accessible to children. The recurring sparrow on Otto’s pages is also a charming visual detail that gives children something extra to notice as they read.
I particularly like the way the book invites an adult and child to discuss what each boy may have been thinking or feeling. Rather than simply telling children to "be empathetic," the book gives them an experience that demonstrates why empathy matters.
In Otto’s Shoes is a short, imaginative book with an innovative format and a worthwhile message. It would be especially well suited for parents, teachers, and anyone looking for a story that can open a conversation with children about understanding other people.
A thoughtful little book with a big lesson: before judging what someone else is experiencing, try walking in their shoes.