Because life would simply not be complete without a sneaker that features Linus in the pumpkin patch, right?

New Balance is teaming with the Peanuts gang for a series of shoes to be released this October, natch.

I have to say I’m dubious about the success of this line. The current generation of children does not view the Peanuts as any sort of cultural touchstone like those of us who grew up in the 70’s and 80’s. Who amongst us doesn’t remember the special privilege of getting to stay up late to watch all of the Peanuts “television events,” with that cool multi-colored, spiralling “SPECIAL” that would twirl it’s way around your screen? And the very important-sounding music that accompanied it?

Sadly, I don’t think kids such as my son will even be slightly interested in wearing these shoes, and they will only be made in children’s sizes.

I think New Balance is missing their main market, hipsters and nostalgic Gen X’ers.

Today’s shoes are brought to you by Wham-O!  Yes, the same company that brought you hula hoops and frisbees now brings you the newest in shoe technology based on the Super Ball.

Yes, you read that right.

It seems that Stride Rite, not being content to let Nike and New Balance get the lion’s share of air-cushioning/levitating fame, is now featuring kid’s shoes with Super Balls in the heels.  Well, of course not really the actual balls, but the synthetic material dubbed Zectron by the inventor that was used in their making.

Original Super Balls from 1965-66 were able to be dropped from a building and would bounce almost all the way back up.   If thrown down, it would exceed the height of the building on the way back up.  I find that both awesome and scary.  Sadly, there are hardly any Super Balls left in the world, although there are many imitators.

But now, your kids can have that very same material on their feet! Imagine the damage they could do on the basketball court!

Do you think it’s just a bunch of hype, or might there be something to this Zectron stuff after all?

Stride Rite – SuperBall Zoom

Stride Rite – Superball Quick Close (Toddler/Youth)

Polliwalks “Fish Lips,” perfect for the kid with a Jonas complex.

We here at Teeny Manolo often look at the search terms that land people on the site. I recently saw one that requested “what shoes make a boy looks cool?”

Here you are, my anonymous friend. From skate shoes to sandals to dress shoes, I’ve got them all.

Circa Kids – Lopez 50K (Toddler/Youth) I love the color combinations on this very cool skate shoe. Tons and tons of positive reader reviews on this as well. Along with a great price, these shoes are winners all around!

Merrell Kids – Mesa Z-Rap Waterproof (Toddler/Youth) These highly rated waterproof shoes will have him ready to face any kind or terrain or weather!

Puma Kids – 917 Lo V (Toddler/Youth), I really like the colors and styling of this low-profile shoe, especially the T-toe.

Skechers Kids – Airators – Supercharger (Toddler/Youth) I can’t include a list of boys’ shoes without having Skechers. My own son wears Skechers and loves them. He finds them very comfortable, which for him is saying a lot.

Tsukihoshi Kids – Euro (Toddler/Youth) This shoe has some of the highest ratings of any kids’ shoe on Zappos. Great styling and construction make this shoe a popular choice.

Teva Kids – Toachi (Toddler/Youth) I chose this shoe because of it’s unusual construction, which is something between a sandal and a sneaker. The closed toe is one of the best features of this shoe.

Bass Kids – Exeter(Toddler/Youth) You can’t go wrong with this classic dress shoe. It’s on sale, too!

Vincent – Fredrik (Infant/Toddler/Youth) Contrast stitching, water repellent upper, and breathable mesh lining combine with sleek styling give this shoe a five-star rating.

adidas Kids – Akwah IV K (Toddler/Youth) While this may not win any beauty contests, this shoe is comfortable and very reasonably priced for tons of fun on the beach.

Sperry Kids – Colton/a> (Youth) Another classic, the slip-on pennyloafer.

Vans Kids – Rowley (Youth) Vans have made a comeback in a big way. Have your kid rock the ramp with some of the best skate shoes around!

If it hasn’t happened in your area already, soon you will probably be experiencing cold weather, rain, and snow. Or at least one of those. What shoes to put on those precious feet in the great outdoors when weather happens?

I’ve put together a list of shoes for boys that should be able to take them through the upcoming seasonal weather in comfort and style. Because even if we ladies are not always about the comfort, we certainly find out very quickly that our kids are. These shoes should make everybody happy.

Keen Kids – Dakota (Toddler/Youth) Good shoes for light to moderate rain, featuring a felted inner lining, water-resistant upper and a durable rubber outsole.

Kamik Kids – Snuggy (Infant/Toddler) Great snow boot at a reasonable price. Features quilted, coated nylon upper, zipper closure, and superloft lining.

Western Chief Kids – Cowboy Brown Rainboot(Infant/Toddler) These were just too cute for me to resist! Features two handles for easy put-on, and moisture absorbing liner.

Western Chief Kids Guitar City (Toddler/Youth) All right, I couldn’t resist these, either!

Merrell Kids – Chameleon Thermo Mid (Toddler/Youth) A waterproof leather upper keeps feet dry, as well as featuring 200g Thinsulate(TM) insulation which will keep their tootsies nice and warm in temps as low as -25F/-32C.

Kamik Kids – Snowkone 3 (Toddler/Youth) (Toddler/Youth) Looking for a flexible, easy-on-the-wallet priced snow boot that your kids can actually walk in? This just might be the ticket.

Ecco Kids – Mtn. Peak Chalet Gtx (Toddler/Youth) (Toddler/Youth) This stylish all-weather boot features a 100% waterproof Gore-tex membrane with a suede and textile upper.

Ecco Kids – Mtn. Peak Chalet Gtx (Toddler/Youth) (Bison) – Footwear
Great-looking snow boot that provides comfort and warmth through the season! With a side zipper and bungee closure as well as padded footbed, these shoes may make them want to go outside!

Khombu Kids – Excursion (Toddler/Youth) Another set of very reasonably priced snow boots. They have weatherproof construction along with a Thermolite inner lining with moisture-wicking, anti-fungal properties.

Stride Rite – Scorch (Infant/Toddler/Youth) and Stride Rite – Tritops (Infant/Toddler/Youth) (Infant/Toddler/Youth) These slippers are not for outside, but what little boy would not be delighted with either the dragon or the dinosaur with eyes that light up? Why can’t adult slippers be this cute?

Because there is never a bad day to feature shoes!

And, because who can resist a great pair of Converse Chuck Taylors for back to school? My son’s school suggests that sneakers/tennis shoes are the best choice, as they need to be able to jump around on the playground at recess. So, why not have them be comfortable and stylish at the same time?

Goes with pretty much everything, from jeans to skirts! At a price of $33.00, not too harsh on the wallet, either.

Here is the boy version, not as “cute,” because boys after a certain age just refuse to do cute, but still cool. These come in slightly pricier at $38.00.

And really, I can use that as my title because nobody really knows what the heck hollaback really means, so why not apply the term to shoes?

I was pleasantly suprised when I looked into the Gwen Stefani-designed clothing line Harajuku Lovers.  It was cute and age appropriate.  Not bad for a celebrity with no real prior designing experience.  When I heard she was also coming out with a line of shoes, I was excited.  I thought they were going to be good.

Ah, expectations. Why must you always dashed?

Bo-ring.

Double bo-ring.

And even worse,  bo-ring, ugly, and overpriced at the same time. I’m sure it takes some sort of talent to design something so multifaceted, right? Nobody said they had to be good facets or anything.

If your kid wants skate shoes, do yourself a favor and go buy some Vans instead. They’re better looking and a heck of a lot cheaper. 

Forgive me, sisters, for I have sinned.

I have a confession to make: Although I work for the world’s foremost shoeblogger, I cannot, myself, be said to be much of a shoe fetishist. Of the many tiresome characteristics displayed by those four airheaded meat puppets on Sex and the City, the extravagantly overdone shoe worship was perhaps the most tiresome of all as far as I was concerned (and that is a crowded field, my friends). Art is art, even when you wear it on your feet, but please! Even Picasso knew when to lay off. The only thing more boring than competitive, fad-driven shoe fetishism is handbag fetishism, and thankfully that appears to have become so expensive as to now be nothing but a self-referential joke between Prada, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, and Balenciaga. And if so, more power to them: Kimora Lee Simmons doesn’t need all that money anyway.

In any case, I have to say that when it comes to shoes worthy of worship, the kids have it all over the adults. First of all, you can generally walk in shoes designed for kids. Secondly, the styles can be more creative, because they don’t have to be so reactive to market forces (is it a four inch stiletto this year or a two inch kitten heel?). I mean, take a look at some of these fabulous sneaks and tell me those aren’t just intrinsically wicked cool.

The Diadora Kids
Victor Plus Jr MD

Light as a pair of winged sandals, eye-catching, vegetarian-safe (although what kind of sauce you’d serve them with I have no idea) and best of all, $34. Some more snazzy soccer shoes:

adidas Kids
F30.8 TRX FG J

Although saddled with a name that belongs more to a fighter jet than a pair of shoes, these are still the kind of futuristic style that we had back when we thought the future was going to be really cool. Remember that? Also: $61, or half the price of a similar pair of adult shoes.

And lastly, these, for which I salivate and which have the added example of being unmissable on the field. When my sister and I went swimming, my mother would adorn us with the loudest, ugliest bathing caps she could find (think rhinestone-studded floral monstrosities in puce and mustard). These are a more aesthetically pleasing iteration of the same principle:

Puma Kids
v5.08 I FG Jr