Review by Norach -- Sigfried’s Smelly Socks!
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NRoach
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Review by Norach -- Sigfried’s Smelly Socks!
[Following is a volunteer review of "Sigfried’s Smelly Socks!" by Len Foley.]
3 out of 4 stars
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Sigfried's Smelly Socks is a delightful children's book about all the things his old socks smell of. The whole thing is wonderfully illustrated by author Len Foley, who also does a great job of incorporating rhyme into it.
The illustrations are whimsical, and fit perfectly into the tone of the whole book. Foley opts to use photographs for many of the things Sigfried's socks smell of, which is a little strange at first, with rotten banana and old chewing gum, but never becomes much of a distraction. The characters, such as they are, are drawn in a semi-childlike way, which I feel adds to the experience for the little ones. Proportions are stretched to emphasise the reek of the various smells, in much the same way a child would depict someone recoiling from an old, mouldy sock.
The rhyme is basic but pleasing to read, with each rhyme standing clearly out from the others. They generally come in couplets, albeit with a somewhat irregular meter, which are satisfying and easy for kids to follow along with. The rhyme scheme does change throughout the book, which has the major benefit of helping keep the kids interested, though might cause minor confusion.
The biggest issue I found was that some of the rhymes were specific to certain regions. As a Brit myself, 'awful' and 'waffle' don't come even close to rhyming. Said rhyme works for many Americans, but is very unlikely to make sense to most readers outside the US. I would consider this a minor concern, though, as the target audience is obviously mostly within the US, and missing that particular rhyme is unlikely to make a significant difference to a child's enjoyment.
The subject matter is something I think all parents and children can relate to, the experience of finding one or several old pairs of socks hidden under the bed that smell of goodness knows what, and it plays nicely into the icky-ness factor that many kids, especially boys, relish. Playing the same notes as 'gross' toys like 'slime' and 'stink bombs' is a proven strategy, because we all know that it's the peak of many children's humour.
Overall, Sigfried's Stinky Socks is a delightful read for children who enjoy other rhyming stories such as Dr Suess. The illustrations are eye catching, and the writing is well executed. My only gripes are the blending of real photographs and occasional wonky rhyme for readers outside the US, both of which are minor.
I give Sigfried's Stinky Socks a 3 out of 4.
******
Sigfried’s Smelly Socks!
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3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Sigfried's Smelly Socks is a delightful children's book about all the things his old socks smell of. The whole thing is wonderfully illustrated by author Len Foley, who also does a great job of incorporating rhyme into it.
The illustrations are whimsical, and fit perfectly into the tone of the whole book. Foley opts to use photographs for many of the things Sigfried's socks smell of, which is a little strange at first, with rotten banana and old chewing gum, but never becomes much of a distraction. The characters, such as they are, are drawn in a semi-childlike way, which I feel adds to the experience for the little ones. Proportions are stretched to emphasise the reek of the various smells, in much the same way a child would depict someone recoiling from an old, mouldy sock.
The rhyme is basic but pleasing to read, with each rhyme standing clearly out from the others. They generally come in couplets, albeit with a somewhat irregular meter, which are satisfying and easy for kids to follow along with. The rhyme scheme does change throughout the book, which has the major benefit of helping keep the kids interested, though might cause minor confusion.
The biggest issue I found was that some of the rhymes were specific to certain regions. As a Brit myself, 'awful' and 'waffle' don't come even close to rhyming. Said rhyme works for many Americans, but is very unlikely to make sense to most readers outside the US. I would consider this a minor concern, though, as the target audience is obviously mostly within the US, and missing that particular rhyme is unlikely to make a significant difference to a child's enjoyment.
The subject matter is something I think all parents and children can relate to, the experience of finding one or several old pairs of socks hidden under the bed that smell of goodness knows what, and it plays nicely into the icky-ness factor that many kids, especially boys, relish. Playing the same notes as 'gross' toys like 'slime' and 'stink bombs' is a proven strategy, because we all know that it's the peak of many children's humour.
Overall, Sigfried's Stinky Socks is a delightful read for children who enjoy other rhyming stories such as Dr Suess. The illustrations are eye catching, and the writing is well executed. My only gripes are the blending of real photographs and occasional wonky rhyme for readers outside the US, both of which are minor.
I give Sigfried's Stinky Socks a 3 out of 4.
******
Sigfried’s Smelly Socks!
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Norach's review? Post a comment saying so!
