Socks [Paperback]

Beverly Cleary (Author), Tracy Dockray (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 8, 2008 | Age Range: 8 and up | Lexile Measure: 890L (What's this?)

Socks is one happy cat....

He lives with a nice young couple called Brickers who play with him, pet him, feed him treats, and always have a warm lap for him to sit in. Then a new baby joins the family Suddenly, the Brickers are sharing their laps and love with Charles William, and Socks is getting into trouble. He runs from a phantom dog, wrestles with Nana's best wig, and fights Old Taylor the tomcat for his territory. But as Charles William grows, Socks discovers that he has a new friend and a new way to be a part of the family.

A purr-fectly hilarious portrait of life with a baby from a cat's point of view.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-After a rough start, and a brief internment in a mail box, Socks the cat has landed on his feet. He belongs to the Brickers-a young couple who dote on him. Then a baby arrives in the household and Socks discovers that the people he'd trained so well no longer consider him the center of their universe. This is devastating, but eventually he finds a new place that everyone can be happy with. This is an hilarious book by Beverly Cleary (Morrow, 1973), told from the cat's point of view, and Neil Patrick Harris does a slam-bang job of presenting it. He provides voices for each character but, more importantly, he reads the story with humor and expression, bringing it to life. Listeners feel a kinship with Socks and root for his success, even while acknowledging his foibles. Both children and adults with roar with laughter at Sock's antics and cringe at his misdeeds. This is a great production that deserves to be enjoyed by a wide audience.
Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Beverly Cleary is one of America's most popular authors. Born in McMinnville, Oregon, she lived on a farm in Yamhill until she was six and then moved to Portland. After college, as the children's librarian in Yakima, Washington, she was challenged to find stories for non-readers. She wrote her first book, Henry Huggins, inresponse to a boy's question, "Where are the books about kids like us?"

Mrs. Cleary's books have earned her many prestigious awards, including the Amercan Library Association's Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, presented in recognition of her lasting contribution to children's literature.

Her Dear Mr. Henshaw was awarded the 1984 John Newbery Medal, and both Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and Ramona and Her Father have been named Newbery Honor Books. In addition, her books have won more than thirty-five statewide awards based on the votes of her young readers. Her characters, including Henry Huggins, Ellen Tebbits, Otis Spofford, and Beezus and Ramona Quimby, as well as Ribsy, Socks, and Ralph S. Mouse, have delighted children for generations. Mrs. Cleary lives in coastal California.

Tracy Dockray is a fine artist and illustrator who has contributed to more than twenty illustrated books, including the bestselling Grimm's Grimmest, Delia at the Delano, and all of Beverly Cleary's highly popular children's books, most notably Ramona. A member of the Society of Illustrators, she holds an MFA from Pratt and lives in New York City.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380709260
• ISBN-13: 978-0380709267
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #83 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Cats

More About the Author

Beverly Cleary's birthday, April 12th, is celebrated across the country on D.E.A.R. Day, with activities related to the Drop Everything and Read Program. One of the most popular and honored authors of all time, Beverly Cleary has won the Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw, and both Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and Ramona and Her Father have been named Newbery Honor Books. She makes her home in coastal California.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Find the old edition of this book! August 31, 2004

By A. Lowry

Format:Paperback

<em>Socks</em> is a great book, but it's terrible that the publisher threw out the great illustrations by Beatrice Darwin in favor of some Saturday-morning-cartoon "illustrations" that turn Socks into an anthropomorphic "character," instead of a cat.

Darwin's great pictures capture the personality of Socks in a way that stuck with me for 25 years. Any cat-lover should look into finding an older copy of this wonderful book.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Socks December 18, 2000

A Kid's Review

Format:Paperback

This book is about a gray kitten with white paws named Socks. Socks is bought by a couple living in a small house.The couple decided to have a baby. The baby was receiving all of the attention Socks normally received. Socks decided to leave the house. Running away from home caused Socks to get in a fight with another cat in the neighborhood. Socks returned home needing attention for his injuries. The couple saw the cuts and sores on Socks. Socks received lots of loving care and a nice comfortable bed to sleep in. There is a happy ending to the story. You'll need to read the book to find out the ending. I recommed this book for readers who love animals. I enjoy reading about any kind of animal. Animals add more excitement and comedy to a story.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Socks By Bevely Cleary October 16, 2002

A Kid's Review

Format:Paperback

Socks is a cat who has a great family but than his family has a baby . So its all about how the cat acts and playes with the baby.Socks gets jealous of the new baby,but at the end you see how Socks acts with the baby as they get older.I thought this was one of Bevely Cleary's best books.This book is great for middle-school aged kids.This book made me laugh a lot and it inspired me to read more Bevely Cleary books.