A very sweet book that I wish the children of the day would read, but probably won't because it isn't action packed with a TV/movie style of writing.
I picked this book because it is a part of the Shoes series which I heard about in the movie, You've Got Mail. Meg Ryan has lost her bookshop and she is sitting in the new Fox Bookstore watching and listening to customers in the children's section of the store. Someone is asking about a certain book and the shop assistant hasn't heard of it. Meg pops into the conversation and tells the customer all about the wonderful series. Even though this is the 7th book in the series I would agree with Meg, and the last two sentences in the book sum up my feelings. "Don't you all want to know what happens to Harriet and me? Because I do."

I mean...this is one of Kathleen Kelly's favorite children's books, so how could I not love it (Kathleen Kelly of the amazing 90s romcom You've Got Mail, if you needed a refresher). And love it I did. It was well written, it was sweet, it was full of heart, it was wonderful.

I have loved Dancing Shoes and Ballet Shoes since I first discovered them at a neighborhood garage sale. But the more of Noel Streatfeild’s books that I read (especially the other “Shoes” books), the more I see the repetition of certain character types:

Dulcie (DS) = Pauline when she’s in Alice in Wonderland (BS) = Lalla (SS)

Pursey (DS) = Nana (BS) = Nana (SS)

Hilary mimicking Dulcie (DS) = Posy mimicking everyone (BS) = Lalla mimicking everyone (SS)

Posy being precocious (BS) = Edward being precocious (SS)

Uncle Tom quietly supporting Rachel behind Aunt Cora’s back (DS) = Uncle David quietly supporting Lalla behind Aunt Claudia’s back (SS)

That’s not to say I hated Skating Shoes, because I didn’t. It just felt a little “been there, done that” and I definitely didn’t love it like I do Dancing Shoes and Ballet Shoes.

A nice story with sort of an abrupt ending.

There's no comfort read better than re-reading books you loved as a child <3 I devoured the Shoes books growing up; this one was my first and my favorite. Not sure how many times I read it back then, but this is my first time in many years - I loved it just as much, the nostalgia was warm hug, but I'd forgotten how funny some of this was, and also an astonishing amount of the story! But that sort of added to the pleasure of re-reading.

Also, this was written in 1951, but I think the story still stands up well. It has the feel of its period, of course, which is part of it's charm, but the way this (and the other Shoes books) focus on young girls actively interested in and working toward careers feels surprisingly modern. And this one has a brief bit in it about body image and weight of a young ice skater, which I felt was handled pretty admirably: The adult character fixated on weight and appearance in an unhealthy way is portrayed as someone who doesn't really have the best interests of the child in mind, whereas the adults you're meant to see as sensible, caring and wise had healthy attitudes about this, and those are the attitudes that win out in the end.

This is not the edition I read. I read a paperback which has Queens Ice Rink, London,on the front and back. Many years ago I wanted to learn to skate just so I knew how to do it. Little did I know how much it would change my life. After starting in Sheffield at the then Silver Blades Ice Rink, coincidentally on Queens Road, I moved to London and continued at Queens Ice rink, Bayswater,which is why I bought this edition having read a different one many years before.
As the figure skating season has just begun I thought I would re read it and what a joy it was to revisit it. I enjoyed the whole story and although it is a children's book I still really enjoyed it. The illustrations are all in black and white but capture the atmosphere so well. I especially loved to read about Lalla doing figures, which are now no longer included in competitions etc as I always enjoyed watching people skating them. There are also descriptions of some of the moves executed.
The story is also about the families of Lalla and Harriet and how different they are but the skating brings them together. It covers how Harriet's brothers want to help and where they see themselves later in life.
All the characters seem very real to me but people reading it today need to realise it was set at a certain time in history so that what some readers may find certain things done or said, to be wrong, this is the reason why.
For me personally I still think children could read it and enjoy it today as there are subjects in it that children can relate to even now such as arguments and reading helps a child to understand the problems other children face and therefore, unkowingly, learning about life.
A lovely comforting read from the pen of Noel Streatfeild.

What a delight! Definitely my favorite of the Shoes books so far. Harriet comes from a wonderfully believable (if slightly quirky) family, and all of the usual tropes are concentrated in Lalla, giving a different angle on the story. And since it's a skating setting rather than a theater setting, there are different milestones to meet that give a different feel to the plot. The characters are lovely--I especially love Harriet's brothers, whose talents are more down-to-earth and whose personalities are funny. Just a fun little book.

Az előző részeihez hasonlóan egy szívmelengető, kedves történetet kaptunk. Szeretek belemélyedni egy régebbi, ártatlan világba, ahol a gyermeki játék, boldogság és csalódottság, a nehézségekkel való szembenézést követhetjük végig. Amikor a fiatalok még nem a telefont bújták, hanem élvezték a napokat, a természet és egymás társaságát. Persze, ez most is így van, de javarészt sokszor sajnos nem ez már a megszokott. Épp ezért szeretem az írónő könyveit, olyan hangulatot adnak, amit amúgy nem biztos, hogy megkapok a mindennapokban. Bár a korábbi történetek jobban a szívemhez nőttek, én bátran ajánlom ezt is bárkinek.

I did not read this as a child, so my perspective is that of an adult who was also an accomplished ice skater.
This was not a satisfying read. I only gave it 3 stars because there was some interesting historical content especially regarding skating. However, the skating content was insufficient to provide any real understanding to readers who are not already familiar with the sport. For those who know skating, not enough detail was provided to be satisfying or convincing. It was just too vague to ring true. For example, why isn't rich spoiled girl competing?
This novel was originally published in the 50s, and skating and society have changed a lot since then. As a first time reader, the text seems antiquated. I doubt this story would appeal to many of today's children.

Cute and charming kids classic, however, it bugged me that the issue with the kids uncle never got resolved

It took over a year and a pandemic to finish this

I love the empowerment in the Shoes books. Kids can change their lives. The side plot involving the entrepreneurship of Harriet's brothers is really fun, while the girls learn that they don't have to be who other people thought they were.