I love books that focus on inspiring, real-life stories that skillfully communicate the essence of the stories to young readers! One such book is a new release from Orca Book Publishers entitled Barefoot Skateboarders by Rina Singh, illustrated by Sophie Casson. The story is set in a remote village in India, where two groups of people live side-by-side, separated not only by a single road through the village, but also by old beliefs and social practices. This separation begins to change when Ulrike Reinhard, a German social activist, raises funds to build a skateboard park in the village. She invites all the children to use the park and isn’t concerned about their social status. Soon, the boys are skating together in their new playground, teaching each other skateboarding skills. The parents watch and wait for old lines of division to appear, which doesn’t happen. One of the boys invites his sister to try skateboarding, which leads to a “girls first” rule that allows girls to have a turn with the skateboards. A “no school, no skateboarding” rule is also put in place when some children begin skipping school to be at the park. The skateboard park draws the attention of famous skateboarders around the world, who travel to India to join the children and teach them new tricks. Some of the young skateboarders are so talented that they are invited to visit skateboard parks in other countries, and they become the first children in the village to get passports. They return home with dreams of improving their skills and uniting their village. Young listeners or readers are sure to love this story, whether or not they are skateboarders. Teachers will find the book helpful in supporting classroom themes such as inclusivity, change, and personal development. An author’s note provides background information about this inspiring story. Also available in French as Les Planchistes Aux Pieds Nus, translated by Rachael Martinez.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Diana Mumford
Diana is the Editor of Canadian Teacher Magazine.
This article is featured in Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Winter 2025 issue.
