Elwyn Tate

Elwyn Tate's books are a treat. I loved "The Deep and Snowy Wood" and the Sock Pirates are another excellent picture book.

Mabel is farmer Bill's cat and they both live on his farm by the sea. But it's not any old farm, as it has there some very special trees which grow socks, a vast variety of socks.
One day pirates arrive on the island after dark and try to steal as many socks as they can carry. Mabel, as a cat awake during the night, watches the tree-raid and decides to take action, but show more things don't go completely as planned and my son (he's 4) found what then happened very funny. The last page is also pure joy, when the following morning the farmer has to take in the whole scenario.

Cheerful and adoreable illustrations enhance a wonderful rhyming story, which is a delight to read to young children, as it comes with challenging words like, pilfered and plundered and looting and hooting. Kids will love Mabel and the Sock Pirates. The wee cat shows courage, when she tries to protect the sock trees. It's a beautiful book to read again and again, not just at bedtime. show less

What a festive book! As the animals romp in and under the snow filled woods to join a little celebration our eyes are shown adorable art along with sweet rhymes.

This book is sweet but not overly sweet. It is short but the combination of art and little text can be read out loud to children in ways that keep the young ones attentive to the story.

My only issue is that I wish I had the physical book in my hands because I would give it to my nephew who is a up and coming book lover. I read show more this in the kindle version and at the end the author did say it would come out in paperback so it may be available now. I have had this version for a few years and it has taking me till now to review.

I would have loved to see a continuation of the end to see how the animals celebrated the winter holidays. The art is lovely and I can see little ones wanting it read over and over again. show less

A wonderfully simple book about a group of animals that find their way, hopping, running, and digging through a snowy wood. Where are they going and who or what are they waiting for? Why Santa of course. The illustrations help make the words come to life in this wonderful Christmas book.

I absolutely loved this wonderful rhyming book about a cat who lived on a farm. On this special farm they had a tree that grew all types of socks. One night a group of pirates tried to steal the sock. But, Mabel the cat had other plan for the pirates.