3 out of 4 stars
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Sigried’s Smelly Socks! is a humorous children’s book written about the search for the awful smell that permeates the narrator’s book. He travels through the pages questioning the source of the smell. Moreover, he attempts to find the culprit who left behind the stinky item. Full of rhymes, illustrations, and silly words, Sigried’s Smelly Socks! will keep a young child wondering until the end if the title says it all or if there is more to the smell than the title alludes.
Sigfried’s Smelly Socks! came across as a great book to read out loud to young children. The humor is, in part, a result of the word usage. Even though children may not know what “sow lard” is, it’s not the meaning of the words that’s important, it’s the way they sound in their rhyming combinations.
The accompanying illustrations further add to the humor. The pictures are well matched with the text and made me crinkle my nose in disgust a time or two (I consider this a positive point because, unmistakably, this was the goal). The images, combined with the odd words, will also help teach children the meaning of any words they may not know. I bet most children could learn a few new words from this book (sow, lard, kraut), words they wouldn’t normally be exposed to by the ages of 3-5. The ending illustration managed to surprise me, and I believe children would be just as startled. The concluding image is sure to evoke one final bout of laughter.
Sigfried’s Smelly Socks! is obviously not written for parents looking for a meaningful story line, although it does have an important life lesson thrown in; keep your stuff clean or it will stink! There is no plot, just a continuous list of items that smell odd and sound hilarious. I would not recommend this book to parents who don’t want their kids using “potty” words, as the author does refer to pee, diapers, and toilets. For the less faint of heart who can admit bathroom related words are funny, this is an excellent choice.
I give the book 3 out of 4 stars for its fun nature and superb illustrations, which will keep the laughter rolling. I withheld the fourth star for two main reasons. The rhyming pattern throughout the book got lost in the end. It almost seemed as if a page was missing or the page with the brush was missing its text. This threw off the flow right at the finish line. Additionally, although I understood the use of “potty” words for added humor and disgust, I know many parents who would be deterred as a result of their usage.
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Sigfried’s Smelly Socks!
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