4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Sigfried’s Smelly Socks! is a book written and illustrated by Len Foley and geared towards children ages 3-7 years old. I like this age span because kids can start by listening as it’s read aloud and later read it on their own. The author has identified a reading level for his book, but the rating doesn’t encompass a fun level. I think this little book is fun for all ages!
I loved everything about this book. The story is very creative and enjoyable to read. It’s about a little boy named Sigfried who is trying to figure out where all the bad smells on the pages of his book are coming from. He has lots of ideas, whether it’s from a rotten banana, his baby sister, or his uncle Kato. He eventually discovers the culprit and vows to eradicate it with hilarious results. I can’t really say anything more, but it’s definitely worth reading to the end.
I like the digital photography the author combines with his drawings. This approach brings an element of realism and fun to the illustrations. The drawings are beautifully colored and shaded and are engaging to look at. There are cute little details like insects that have their own thoughts, and funny looking people that react to the odors. There are also some unidentifiable objects in the pictures that would be fun to ask kids to imagine what they could be. This addition gives the book a level of interactivity that would be especially fun to play with in group settings.
The rhymes and accompanying pictures are great for helping kids learn to read new words easier. There are also some creative words like dribbled and reeks that the author uses to describe some of the smells. Reading unique adjectives like these in the book can help teach kids more advanced vocabulary. The content looks great in digital format but would be even better in print. A parent or teacher could really put on a performance reacting to each of the icky pages as they turn them.
This book is full of gross stuff to look at and think about, but most kids and adults will enjoy it. The characters are cute and relatable and it might be a good tool for parents to use to encourage kids to pick up after themselves. I didn’t really find anything in it offensive, but more sensitive types might be turned off by some of the descriptions like dog pee and diapers. I rate this book a 4 out of 4 stars. This book will entertain kids over and over and would have been a favorite of mine at their ages.
******
Sigfried’s Smelly Socks!
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Momiji1987's review? Post a comment saying so!
