A creative, playful tale about the fate of missing socks.
A child’s sock encounters some surprising adventures in debut author Werchinski-Yates’ delightful picture book.
The future looks grim for Andy the sock when a mistake at the factory leaves him missing several stitches. But he’s in luck: The Baby Sock Maker stitches him up with an unusual stripe of pale blue thread. The blue stitches quickly distinguish him as a lucky sock when he arrives at the home of Joey Abernathy and his family, and the bonds he shares with his fellow socks make for plenty of giggles and good times. Life as a sock can be tough, though. Yet no matter if it’s sweaty feet, static cling or the ever present danger of the Abernathys’ puppy, Andy meets the challenges of his new life with an upbeat attitude and a relentless sense of fun. However, there’s one obstacle Andy can’t seem to overcome: The blue thread holding him together is falling out, and he’s in danger of being thrown out if the hole gets too big. He’s heard rumors of a “secret sock club” in which socks can seek refuge, but he must find it before it’s too late—and his friends may be counting on him to save the day. Perfect for anyone who wonders where lost socks go, this quirky, endearing story is sure to charm young readers. The satisfying plot hits the tried-and-true notes of a winning children’s book—Andy’s initial rejection, strong friendships, an ability to save the day—but the length and large amount of text per page make this a cumbersome read-aloud and a challenging independent read for young children. For those who can persevere, though, this whimsical take on the life of a sock becomes a memorable, entertaining read held together by gentle humor.
A creative, playful tale about the fate of missing socks.Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-9855689-9-3
Page Count: 29
Publisher: Lucky Sock Publishing
Review Posted Online: June 19, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Playful, engaging, and full of opportunities for empathy—a raucous storytime hit.
Readers try to dislodge a monster from the pages of this emotive and interactive read-aloud.
“OH NO!” the story starts. “There’s a monster in your book!” The blue, round-headed monster with pink horns and a pink-tipped tail can be seen cheerfully munching on the opening page. “Let’s try to get him out,” declares the narrator. Readers are encouraged to shake, tilt, and spin the book around, while the monster careens around an empty background looking scared and lost. Viewers are exhorted to tickle the monster’s feet, blow on the page, and make a really loud noise. Finally, shockingly, it works: “Now he’s in your room!” But clearly a monster in your book is safer than a monster in your room, so he’s coaxed back into the illustrations and lulled to sleep, curled up under one page and cuddling a bit of another like a child with their blankie. The monster’s entirely cute appearance and clear emotional reactions to his treatment add to the interactive aspect, and some young readers might even resist the instructions to avoid hurting their new pal. Children will be brought along on the monster’s journey, going from excited, noisy, and wiggly to calm and steady (one can hope).
Playful, engaging, and full of opportunities for empathy—a raucous storytime hit. (Picture book. 2-7)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5247-6456-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: June 4, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions.
Ellis, known for her illustrations for Colin Meloy’s Wildwood series, here riffs on the concept of “home.”
Shifting among homes mundane and speculative, contemporary and not, Ellis begins and ends with views of her own home and a peek into her studio. She highlights palaces and mansions, but she also takes readers to animal homes and a certain famously folkloric shoe (whose iconic Old Woman manages a passel of multiethnic kids absorbed in daring games). One spread showcases “some folks” who “live on the road”; a band unloads its tour bus in front of a theater marquee. Ellis’ compelling ink and gouache paintings, in a palette of blue-grays, sepia and brick red, depict scenes ranging from mythical, underwater Atlantis to a distant moonscape. Another spread, depicting a garden and large building under connected, transparent domes, invites readers to wonder: “Who in the world lives here? / And why?” (Earth is seen as a distant blue marble.) Some of Ellis’ chosen depictions, oddly juxtaposed and stripped of any historical or cultural context due to the stylized design and spare text, become stereotypical. “Some homes are boats. / Some homes are wigwams.” A sailing ship’s crew seems poised to land near a trio of men clad in breechcloths—otherwise unidentified and unremarked upon.
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6529-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2014
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