Written by Laura Dockrill
Illustrated by Eva Byrne
Published by Candlewick Press
Mom's Review
Sockflea had me smiling as I read - the child's decision making, consequences, and then reaction to sequence of unfolding events is at once predictable and hilarious. When the little elephant goes camping with his grown-up (whose expressions are priceless, by the way), they do NOT take along a stuffed animal, which is fine...until...it's time to sleep. The grown-up has a "magical" solution and manages the crises with creativity and aplomb.
I like Sockflea for more than just it's hilarity. First, it validates a five-year-old's desire to be mature while also acknowledging that sleeping with a stuffed buddy is comforting. Second, it showcases a commonplace but meaningful event - weekend family fun. And third, we never quite know who the elephant's grown-up. We are only told "my grown-up," which allows children in various family structures to see the elephant family resemble their own. Sockflea pairs perfectly with camping, sleeping without "stuffies," or spending time exclusively with one special grown-up. I love it!
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