Even the most commonplace object can be a powerful learning tool for a young child. In the case described in this article, shoes provided an opportunity for children of all abilities to leave their classroom and explore the places, spaces, and faces of their own community. The study of shoes also demonstrated how one teacher reached each and every child, each and every day. This caring, inclusive classroom became a space where each child felt welcomed, respected, and engaged; and a space where each child learned to see him or herself as a member of a vibrant community.