25th July International Red Shoe Day

International Red Shoe Day, celebrated every July 25, was founded in memory of Australian Lyme disease patient Theda Myint, who passed away from the disease in 2013. Theda Myint died of Lyme disease on July 25, 2013, thus the date. Myint’s disease grew gradually after she was bitten by ticks in Australia, and was exacerbated by a bout of flu she caught while traveling in Europe in 2000.

It was created to raise awareness of the so-called invisible illnesses — physical, mental and neurological conditions that are not immediately apparent to others but can hurt just as much as illnesses with easily visible symptoms. Myint was known for her love of red shoes, which is why the red shoe became the symbol of the day.

While many of my students would not know what Lyme disease is, there are many that seem to be besotted with shoes and having the same shoes as their friends. This worries me, but I guess there is so much shoe choice these days and I am jealous because as a child I had only two pairs of shoes, school shoes and sneakers. A rare school friend had a pair of 'good' shoes too for parties and Sunday School.

There are so many children's books that feature shoes. See here. To celebrate this day though I thought I would just mention those that feature 'red' shoes.

Of course there is Hans Christian Anderson's story The Red Shoes. The library has two picture book versions, but it is not a 'simple' story and is in fact, I think very strange and not really for young children. As is the case in some of Anderson's tales, Karen the protagonist dies at the end of the story. She is 'punished' for her vanity and 'lust' for the finer things. The version with illustrations by Sun Yung Yoo that is in the library has beautiful and haunting artwork.

Simpler and more 'cosy' is the series of books about the hare Ruby, in Ruby Red Shoes. The library has all of these books and a very popular toy to accompany them.

Next look for this, Red Shoes where Malika is delighted when Nana surprises her with a beautiful new pair of red shoes! 

We don't have this one, Lily May and the Ruby Shoes Blues as here in Australia children wear a school uniform and no one is likely to come to school wearing red high heels, but it has the making of lots of good discussion.

And if you are thinking 'outside the box' try this lovely story, The Mermaid and her Shoe is  about one of King Neptune's daughters, Minnow and her quest for answers about a red shoe that she finds.