Have You Seen My New Blue Socks?

PreS-Gr 1—Duck has lost his favorite pair of socks. In a drawer of boring white socks, his new blue socks stood out. He is forlorn without his cheerful footwear and sets out to ask his friends to aid in the search. His friends Mr. Fox and Mr. Ox offer suggestions, but are no real help. It takes the keen eye of a young peacock to solve the mystery. Michele O. Medlin narrates the simple rhyming tale with squeaky friendliness. Yet like most picture books, the words depend on the synergy of accompanying illustrations. Although this slight, almost Seussian story is cute, it gets much of its charm from Sergio Ruzzier's adorable artwork. With the picture book before them, observant readers will thrill at noticing where Duck's missing socks are before the youngest Peacock steps in to help. Connect kids with the book (Clarion, 2013) and this audio version and you've got a winning combination.—Jennifer Verbrugge, State Library Services, Roseville, MN