Sock Story

PreS-Gr 1–Through the portal of a washing machine, readers watch as Phil and Dale, a rambunctious pair of red-and-white socks, surf the suds, get separated, and, as a result, grow. Phil and Dale delight in their play while other clothes chide their actions. Then, just as the fun amps up, one disappears. Dale receives some guidance from a bright red shirt, an encounter that will forever change him (metaphorically represented by a change in color—pink), but still he despairs. After reuniting, the two friends learn to accept the changes they have gone through and return to their play. This whimsical but touching story is told entirely through speech bubbles and pattern-laced, mixed-media pop art. The illustrator simulated the look and feel of the clothes and washer by using charcoals to add texture and by placing sound effects around the edges of the machine. Ultimately, this is a story about how two twins (or close siblings) change in different ways and learn to accept that this doesn’t affect their bond.