NY TIMES REVIEW - Smouha and Marton wring genuine suspense and edgy humor out of this clever, colorful tale. SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: This whimsical but touching story is told entirely through speech bubbles and pattern-laced, mixed-media pop art. The illustrator simulated the look and feel of the clothes and washer by using charcoals to add texture and by placing sound effects around the edges of the machine. Ultimately, this is a story about how two twins (or close siblings) change in different ways and learn to accept that this doesn’t affect their bond. VERDICT A fun format for teaching those just entering school that change isn’t necessarily a terrible thing. ASSET READING ADVOCATE REVIEW: An encouraging and funny look at friendship from the perspective of a pair of socks! A brilliant message reminding us to celebrate the differences of our friends! READING ZONE REVIEW: The text mostly takes the form of speech bubbles, making this a great book for reluctant readers who don't enjoy large banks of text. The story has themes of friendship and acceptance, and ends with the message, 'who cares if we're a little odd'. The story has some unkind characters who aren't helpful to Dale as he searches for Phil, and would be a good tool for in the classroom to discuss the importance of the language that we use towards each other. This is a lovely story to share with children, perhaps to inspire them to personify another item of clothing in the wash! IBBY UK REVIEW ~ DR. LINA IORDANAKI: This brilliant picture book can spark thought-provoking conversations on the nature of human relationships, belonging and identity in a comic way. Reading it from a different perspective, it can even raise questions about homosexuality and diversity. The story is supported fantastically by Eleonora Marton’s crayon illustrations and vibrant colours. Artistic highlight: the front cover with its round hole creatively resembles a washing machine. KIRKUS STARRED REVIEW: A big round hole in the front cover invites readers to join the tumbling twosome in their exhilarating romp. In the simply drawn, brightly hued illustrations, Marton dabs simple faces onto the tumbling, rumpled laundry, presenting the all-dialogue narrative and the clunks and gurgles of the washing cycles in block letters and adding hands and a flash of elbow, both pink, as the only signs of human agency. A well-knit tale of textile togetherness. SCHOOL READING LIST REVIEW: This surreal tale explores the friendship, loyalty and joy which, for most of us, fades away after the age of 10 and is ideal for showing children how to cope with challenges. BOOK ACTIVIST REVIEW: You’ll never look at your odds socks in the same way after reading this story! Sock Story brings laundry to life in a lively, humourous tale which is sure to delight young readers (and parents and carers too). Colourful, lively crayon illustrations capture the fun throughout, as Dale finally finds Phil – who no longer looks like he did before (as grown-ups will know, clothes can turn a different colour if left in the machine on the wrong wash..!). But Dale must remember all the wonderful things that really make them a pair as he and Phil enjoy the wash together again! Sock Story is a really great way to spark a conversation on things we have in common, outside of the way we look and will provide lots of laughter at story time. HORN BOOK: Everything about this British import works—from the humorous, original story; to the relatable, endearing main characters; to the valuable and organically delivered message. The comics-style presentation—all dialogue and sound effects—makes everything feel fresh and dynamic; and the ink, charcoal, and mixed-media illustrations, in a riot of bright colors on saturated pages, are as exuberant as our forever-matched pair. LCN REVIEW: Not only is the book a great visual and storytelling experience, it is guaranteed to appeal to textile care people, whichever the sector – and whatever their ages. Sock Story tells the tale of a pair of socks, Phil and Dale, who become separated in the wash and follows the trials and tribulations they have to endure before they are reunited. Since reading this book I have been much more careful about pairing socks at home. This book will appeal to adults and children alike and really is a tour de force in endearing story telling as well as being a steal at just £9.95. READ IT DADDY: The first thing we loved about this book was the bright and colourful illustrations, full of character and fun. The second thing is the fact that the story is told largely through dialogue, like a comic strip - which actually makes it really fun to read aloud (particularly if I read Phil's bits and C reads Dale's parts). The book is gorgeously presented, fabulous for younger readers (and a good sturdy book at that, important when you're reading it to littlies who love dribbling on and chewing books!) THE MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW - A wonderfully charming and original picture book story with a valued underlying message concerning differences brought about by change, ‘Sock Story’ is especially and unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections for children ages 3- 8. THE AOI REVIEW: The text is bold, bright, and the crayon style illustrations seize the attention immediately. The comic book format makes it quick paced and the plot works in elements of identity, belonging and friendship. Marton’s illustrations are almost overwhelming in palette and composition, but are engaging in their sheer friendliness, and half of the fun of the book will be in the excitement generated through the personification of the set of clothing that Marton has created. The stylistic naïveté that has been harnessed is also instantly accessible to children, and easily replicated, making Sock Story a sure favourite and an influence on their own early creative output. KIDLY REVIEW: This story solves all the mystery over the sock that always goes missing in the wash. We love how it's fun for both kids and adults. This is a great book that will last for years to come.
08/23/2019
PreS-Gr 1-Through the portal of a washing machine, readers watch as Phil and Dale, a rambunctious pair of red-and-white socks, surf the suds, get separated, and, as a result, grow. Phil and Dale delight in their play while other clothes chide their actions. Then, just as the fun amps up, one disappears. Dale receives some guidance from a bright red shirt, an encounter that will forever change him (metaphorically represented by a change in color—pink), but still he despairs. After reuniting, the two friends learn to accept the changes they have gone through and return to their play. This whimsical but touching story is told entirely through speech bubbles and pattern-laced, mixed-media pop art. The illustrator simulated the look and feel of the clothes and washer by using charcoals to add texture and by placing sound effects around the edges of the machine. Ultimately, this is a story about how two twins (or close siblings) change in different ways and learn to accept that this doesn't affect their bond. VERDICT A fun format for teaching those just entering school that change isn't necessarily a terrible thing.-Rachel Forbes, Oakville Public Library, Ont.
★ 2019-01-15
Separation and sudden change pose an existential threat to a pair of socks.
Red-and-white socks Phil and Dale glory in the washing machine's thrill ride, ignoring grumpy, repressive comments from the other laundry: "Woah Spin Cycle!" they shout. Then Phil suddenly disappears. Dale searches high and low ("There's a load of guys like you over there," offers a pair of friendly green underpants), lodging temporarily in the pocket of a red shirt and fretting over the prospect of a solitary life as a sock puppet or a golf cozy. But when, dumped into a dryer with the rest of the laundry, the two catch sight of each other at last, Phil holds back: "You're…you're PINK!" Shouldn't a pair of socks look exactly the same? Happily, once the dryer starts its tumble, Phil's foolish doubts are dispelled in the shared fun. "Who am I kidding Dale—of course you're my pair!…And, anyway," as the mismatched buddies walk off on a pair of feet, "who cares if we're a little odd." A big round hole in the front cover invites readers to join the tumbling twosome in their exhilarating romp. In the simply drawn, brightly hued illustrations, Marton dabs simple faces onto the tumbling, rumpled laundry, presenting the all-dialogue narrative and the clunks and gurgles of the washing cycles in block letters and adding hands and a flash of elbow, both pink, as the only signs of human agency.
A well-knit tale of textile togetherness. (Picture book. 5-8)
