3 out of 4 stars
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In true Dr. Seuss tradition, Sigfried's Smelly Socks is an engaging, well-illustrated, fictional story for children. Intended for those aged three to seven, the book contains words and illustrations by Len Foley. Most phrases rhyme, with some words that are printed in a bigger font to emphasize the rhyme or the use of an advanced vocabulary word. The imagery evoked by the words are heightened by the colorful illustrations. They relate to the text, as well as, help in the development of the story. Sometimes, a picture instead of a drawing is used, enhancing the reader's tactile experience of the book. I read an ebook version, so I'm wondering if the physical copy also contains some of the smells mentioned.
The narrator, presumably also a child aged somewhere between three to seven, starts the book by wondering why the book is smelly. He tries to identify the cause and his multiple guesses are hilarious! There are many stains in the book that provide clues to the mystery. In the end, he figures out that his smelly socks may or may not be the cause of the smell, but he'll take action anyway, in an unexpected and funny way.
The narrator's decision to do something about the socks speaks to his self-reliance. I liked that he realized that he may not be able to do something about the smells and stains that other people have left on the book, but he can do something about his smelly socks. His use of his detective skills is something that readers can identify with, too. His obvious love for his family shows in how he knows them so well, that he could guess and remember who left which stain. The mere fact that the book is stained so much is proof of how he likes carrying it around, hopefully rereading it. I read the book multiple times myself, not only for the purpose of the review, but also to delight anew in the illustrations. There is one typo, spaghetti is misspelled, but it's forgivable.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Overall, the book was a pleasure to read. It engaged my different senses - my sight through the illustrations, my sense of smell through the descriptive storyline, my hearing through the rhymes, and almost my senses of touch and taste through the pictures. I also liked the different colors and sock patterns that are informative to the reader. However, I would have loved a less subtle moral lesson that the book would impart to the reader. The ending might be taken literally and done at home without supervision by children.
I would recommend this book to those who love to read to children for them to giggle over the pictures and sound out the rhymes. It's very polished, professionally done, and would be a great addition to a children's book collection.
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Sigfried’s Smelly Socks!
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