Secret Agent Man Goes Shopping for Shoes – Tim Wynne-Jones, illustrated by Brian Won, Candlewick Press, (9780763671198), 2016
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 1- 5 (5 is excellent or a Starred review) 4
Genre: Picture Book
What did you like about the book? A young boy lives a secret life as a spy in his imagination. When Mom takes Sam shoe shopping he tells her “I can’t decide whether I want rocket shoes or vanishing shoes.” When he tries on tiger-striped high tops he is ready to save the world. Mom, also known as “K” in the secret agent man pages, plays along with him. The illustrations perfectly convey this duality – scenes featuring secret agent man (S.A.M.) are rendered in bold graphic black and blue, while the scenes of reality are rendered on a light blue background. A fun double page spread is split in thirds, with the top third depicting S.A.M. and K, complete with a black mask, having a meal with snakes, while below the table we see regular clothing and matching tiger sneakers. In the end, S.A.M. defends the world and even learns to ties his own laces.
Anything you didn’t like about it? No
To whom would you recommend this book? Hand this to children who have secret lives as spy kids.
Who should buy this book? Public libraries
Where would you shelve it? Picture Books
Should we (librarians/readers) put this at the top of our “to read” piles? No
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City: Catherine Coyne, Mansfield Public Library, Mansfield, MA
Date of review: 7/15/16
Youth Services Book Review 
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