The Painted Shoes

Lexile: 580 | Grade: 3

Passage

Lila was excited for Art Day at school. Everyone was allowed to wear old clothes and paint all morning. Lila brought an old T-shirt and jeans, but she also wore her favorite white sneakers without thinking.

By the end of the first painting session, her sneakers had blue, red, and green spots all over them.

“Oh no!” she said, looking down. “These were brand new!”

Her friend Jamal looked over. “Maybe you can turn them into rainbow shoes,” he said with a smile.

Lila thought for a moment. Then she grabbed her brush and carefully added more colors. She painted stars on the sides and swirls near the toes.

By the time Art Day was over, her sneakers didn’t look new anymore—but they looked awesome. Everyone in class said they were the coolest shoes they had ever seen.

Lila grinned. “They’re even better than before,” she said. “Now they tell a story.”