Luigi and the Barefoot Races - Softcover

Paley sets a breathless pace that keeps readers guessing. The tale is told by a nostalgic witness, and it captures a strong sense of neighborhood pride. Boyd's bright illustrations move right along with the action and depict a multicultural community from a variety of panoramic and close-up perspectives. Cheers for Luigi. -- Kirkus Aug 2015 "Kirkus Reviews Posted Online July 22, 2015"

They say Luigi always ran barefoot. And they speak of his greatest challenge—the race nobody thought he could win, not even Luigi himself.Maybe it’s urban legend, or maybe the true events have acquired added luster in Dan Paley’s memory. After all, a story this amazing couldn’t possibly be true, could it?Suffused with nostalgia for soft summer evenings in a city neighborhood, with kids playing in the street, neighbors visiting, twilight seeming like it would never end....A tall tale that kids will never tire of.Aaron Boyd’s colorful illustrations vividly recreate an urban Philadelphia street and its houses, shops, and memorable people.Fountas & Pinnell Level M