Smelly Socks

Munsch, R. (2004). Smelly Socks. Illustrated by Michael Martchenko. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Scholastic Canada.

Brief Annotation: Tina was in need of new socks, not just any socks, but socks from the big sock store across the river. Once she found the socks of her dreams, Tina vowed to NEVER take those socks off. After wearing the socks for 20 days, animals began to fall down from the stench, and her friends decided to throw her in the river to wash the socks. Since Tina finally had clean socks, she asked her mother if she could get a matching shirt. Her mom obliged, and just as before 20 days later the kids threw her back in the river to wash the socks, and now also the shirt.
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: Pre-K to Grade 3

Readers who will like this: Children who have a favorite piece of clothes that they wear religiously can relate to the character in this book .

Response/Rating (1-4): The illustrations in this story are done in watercolor, which allows for Tina’s socks to show a progression of dirt in a realistic way. It puts an interesting twist on the importance of cleaning all of your items, even those that are our favorites. I would give this book a rating of 4.
One question you would ask before a read aloud: Does anyone have a special or favorite piece of clothes that you always want to wear?