3 out of 4 stars
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Sigfried’s Smelly Socks! by Len Foley
This is a children’s book written and illustrated by Len Foley. The recommended age range for this book is 3-7 years old.
The first thing you note about this book is the alliteration in the title. The repetition of the same consonant gives the title a melodic sound. It almost makes you want to sing the title like an opera song!
The author then begins the story by mentioning a litany of foods that have stuck to the pages of the book, making the book smelly. He also includes other “accidents” that have contributed to the odors emanating from the pages. In this part of the book, the smells are directly in the book.
The story then moves on to another smell that comes from a different location. There is a horrible odor emanating from under the bed. That is where all the dirty socks have been accumulating. The author presents a unique smell for each sock. This section presents a wonderful chance for children to learn or review colors as there are no two socks of the same color. This part of the book would also lend itself to counting as the child could count how many different colors of socks Sigfried had thrown under the bed.
After the discovery of the socks under the bed, Sigfried proceeds to resolve the smelly situation by washing the socks. This was my least favorite part of the book. I thought Sigfried could have been shown how to throw his dirty socks into a laundry basket and then watch the socks going around in the washing machine. Will any of the children reading this book imitate Sigfried’s method of washing?
I also struggled with the cadence of the sentences. The author does rhyme the phrases but does not follow a uniform metre throughout. The uneven metre affects the rhythm of the reading.
The author does an excellent job of using colors throughout the book. Several pages feature a blue or lilac background. The socks also have bright, bold colors. The pictures of the food are all real, but the people are portrayed as cartoon drawings.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. The variance in the metre and the ending kept me from giving it a higher score. This book would be well received by parents, teachers, babysitters, librarians, and small children. It is a humorous way to teach a simple lesson about cleanliness and avoiding smells in the house and under the bed.
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Sigfried’s Smelly Socks!
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