ATTENTION TEACHERS, HOMESCHOOL PARENTS, AND SCHOOL LIBRARIANS:
The Multicultural Chapter Book Your Classroom Has Been Waiting For
When JR's old sneakers begin to glow, he and his cousin Eliot are whisked away on a single magical afternoon to five real places across the globe. Nairobi, Jaipur, Limerick, Kyoto, and Guadalajara. At every stop, they meet a new friend, learn a new game, and discover that kindness, courage, and curiosity speak every language.
Built for the classroom. Loved by kids.
Soul Sneakers: Passport to Play is a heartwarming chapter book designed to support today's elementary classroom, pairing an adventure children genuinely want to read with the structure teachers actually need.
CLASSROOM-READY FEATURES:
- Pronunciation glossary covering Swahili, Hindi, Irish, Japanese, and Spanish
- Seven critical thinking discussion questions for comprehension and reflection
- Twenty affirmations for SEL warm-ups and morning meetings
- Full-color illustrations on every spread
- Chapter book format for guided reading, independent reading, and read-aloud
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS:
Social Studies (world cultures, geography) • ELA (vocabulary, comprehension, character study) • Social-Emotional Learning (empathy, courage, belonging) • Character Education (kindness, teamwork, perseverance) • Cultural Competence
KEY VOCABULARY FROM FIVE LANGUAGES:
- Harambee (Swahili) — teamwork
- Jugaad (Hindi) — creative problem-solving
- Craic (Irish) — joyful togetherness
- Ganbatte (Japanese) — doing your best
- Mientras más, mejor (Spanish) — everyone is welcome
PERFECT FOR:
- Classroom teachers building world cultures, kindness, or SEL units
- School and classroom librarians stocking diverse chapter books
- Homeschool families teaching world geography and global studies
- Reading specialists looking for high-interest texts with built-in support
- Reluctant readers in grades 2–4 who need a story that pulls them in
- Parents raising curious, kind, globally-minded children
Designed for independent readers in grades 2–4 and read-aloud for grades K–4. Approximately 9,000 words across 8 chapters.
Book 1 of the Soul Sneakers series. The journey is just beginning.