Socks (Library Binding)

~ (Author), Tracy Dockray (Illustrator) "The tabby kitten hooked his white paws over the edge of the box marked, Kittens 25 or Best Offer..." (more)
Key Phrases: Charles William, Old Taylor, Uncle Walter (more...)

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 the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Description

Socks is the name of the newest character to be created by Beverly Cleary. He is a young tabby cat with four white paws, and he lives happily with a young married couple, Marilyn and Bill Bricker. The center of the Bricker household, Socks rules it affectionately but firmly.

Into this loving home, however, comes another pet. This creature has a small, wrinkled, furless face, and Mr. and Mrs. Bricker spend an inordinate amount of time trying to burp it. Its arrival fills Socks with jealousy and a terrible anxiety. How the rivalry between Socks and Charles William, the Bricker baby, turns into an alliance makes a domestic drama both touching and funny.

Although her story is about a cat and faithful to his point of view in every detail, Mrs. Cleary demonstrates with it the emotional upheaval experienced by a child who must learn to share his parents. As young readers come to understand Socks and his problems, they will gain a new understanding of themselves. But, most of all, they will laugh.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Library Binding: 160 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (August 1, 1973)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688300677
• ISBN-13: 978-0688300678
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,832,186 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 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 (Madison, MS United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Socks (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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Socks, December 18, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Socks (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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

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

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Socks (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.