Socks (original 1973; edition 1990)

I have a picture of myself holding Socks Clinton, while inside the White House.

Who doesn't love books about cats? This 8 year old sure did!! ( )

Another good story by Beverly Cleary, although not quite as good as her "Ramona" books, in my opinion. The viewpoint is mainly from the main character, a tabby kitten who is dubbed Socks for his white paws. After being adopted by a young married couple, his life is bliss with lots of treats and affection, but then something happens in his life...a squalling and annoying addition is made to the family, and Socks finds himself being neglected.

If you like Ms. Cleary's books, you should enjoy this one as well. ( )

kids love this funny book of life with a baby from a cats view. Funny for those kids who have to deal with having a baby or ones who have a pet and wonders what it thinks all the time! ( )

Socks is the name of a character 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.

"A favorite author brings alive the amusing devastation of the happy home life of Socks, the cat, who is unnerved by the addition of a new baby to the household. Told in Socks' voice, the story delivers a hysterical account of adjusting to change. Both children and adults will roar with laughter at Sock's antics and cringe at his misdeeds." — School Library Journal

Socks is the adorable story of a cat with four white paws—hence, the name Socks!—who lives with a young married couple, named the Brickers. Socks is spoiled by his family, and gets all of the attention. Until, the Brickers bring home a newborn son. When the attention Socks once got starts going to the baby, Socks feels as though his family does not love him anymore. Socks ends up getting sent to the garage when he misbehaves, which inspires him to go out on a neighborhood adventure. Socks eventually ends up getting in a bad fight with a neighborhood cat and is wounded. Once Socks returns to his family, they realize they had not been paying him very much attention because of the new baby. The story ends quite happily though, because Socks discovers that he now has a new play friend in the baby.
I would recommend this book for more advanced-readers in the lower elementary grades, and to struggling readers in the upper elementary grades. This book is great for children that have experienced what it is like to have a new baby and to have to begin sharing attention. Animal lovers will also be fond of this story, especially since it is so cutely and cleverly told from the perspective of Socks. ( )