THE SOCK CLOSET ELF

A child discovers the secret behind missing socks—and the fun of wearing a mismatched pair—in this debut picture book.

Elves hunt through houses at night, stealing single socks. But one morning, when most of the elves have disappeared, a white boy named Timmy spies something in his closet. There, he sees “A BIG BATCH OF LOST SOCKS THAT NO ONE COULD FIND!” and the elf who stole them. Though Timmy tries to share the sock news, he soon realizes that the adults aren’t interested and he has a distraught elf to handle. After Timmy offers to bring the elf tea and cherry pie, the thief becomes less worried. And when Timmy struggles to find a matching sock so he can attend church, the elf helps him realize that a mismatched pair is just fine. This silly tale doesn’t have much in the way of conflict—the friendship between child and elf is the focus instead. The ability of both to listen to the other and to shift their perspectives should appeal to independent readers, especially when presented in the consistent, accessible rhymes that McSweeney and Middleton have created. L’Ecuyer’s soft cartoon illustrations have a Disney-like flair, and Timmy’s orange-red hair stands out in the largely pastel images. Although the label on Timmy’s closet reading “lil’ Man Cave” feels unnecessary, the pictures overall suit the story’s tone and texture. A nod to the Down syndrome community’s mismatched sock banner is a nice touch.

A cozy and whimsical elf tale for independent readers.