Available today from MacMillan Kids Books is the hysterical book, Sock on the Loose. The book was written and illustrated by Conor McGlauflin.
Conor McGlauflin is a designer and teacher living in Brooklyn, NY with his wife. He graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design where he received a BA in Industrial Design with a focus in Sustainability. He has spent the past ten years creating digital products for startups and tech companies. Sock on the Loose is his debut picture book.
WHY is it that socks always get separated? You wear them as a pair. They go in the wash as a pair. Ideally they come out of the dryer as a pair. But somewhere along the way, one sock goes missing. I can tell you from my own personal experience that it’s always one of MY socks that goes missing. Case in point, I purchased a pair of Grogu (“The Child” from Mandalorian) socks. I love them. They are adorable. The first time they were washed, one went missing. Ugh! I have yet to find the missing sock.
When a sock goes missing, most people assume it’s been digested by the dryer some how (I swear the dryer eats my socks!). But what if the missing sock decided that it wanted to go on an adventure and do other things then what it’s intended for. For example, what if a sport sock wants to go off and see what it’s like to be worn with heels and not sneakers? What if my Grogu sock wanted to go off and see if it could find other beings who know how to use the force? I don’t know. But when you have an imagination, anything is possible.
Conor McGlauflin wrote the book Sock on the Loose not to address the mystery of the missing socks, but rather, to help children to use their imaginations and think “outside the box.”
According to the author;
I wrote Sock on the Lose not to solve the mystery, but to inspire people to turn that moment of dismay into a spark of imagination – to use creativity to add meaning to any setback, big or small, and to give children permission to invent the world around them, rather than follow it.
Sock on the Lose is a story about finding yourself and then making your way back home – of exploring the unknown and not letting the world around you define who you are destined to be.
I LOVE this idea! I’m all for anything that encourages a child to use their imagination. So many children today turn into mindless zombies, engulfed in video games and apps. Back in the day when I was a child, you could give me a few sticks and I would find something invented and creative to do with them and using my imagination, I could play for hours. I didn’t need a television or smart phone.
I had the opportunity to read the book (advanced copy) and I think it’s wonderful. Not only is it a great story, but it also has the most darling illustrations.
I love seeing the socks doing non-sock things, like painting, surfing and exploring a watermelon cave (that sounds like fun… but very sticky).
I work with children, and I am looking forward to reading this book to them and having them design their own sock (I’ll print something out). Or maybe have them draw their own socks doing something that a sock REALLY wants to do (and not always be stuck inside a shoe).
Speaking of activities, I have a free Sock on the Lose activity pack that you can download, print out and enjoy with your family. Click on the link (below).
Sock On The Loose Activity Kit
Other bloggers are posting their reviews of this book today. We all were given a sock to decorate and let them enjoy their freedom for a while. Here is my sock enjoying something un-sock like.
My sock likes cats.
Making friends with Grogu (“The Child”)
My sock enjoys reading… especially about his sock friends.
You need to fuel up on some coffee before you head out on your adventures.
I need your help to find it’s match. Please visit social media and search the hashtag #SockOnTheLoose on Twitter and Instagram. If you find my match, please tweet, message and/or tag me (you can comment on this post as well). I’m @SheScribes on all social media except Twitter (@She_Scribes).
Be sure to follow MacMillan Kids Books and Conor McGlauflin too.
- Twitter: @MacKidsBooks / @conormcglauflin
- Instagram: @MacKidsBooks / @mcglauflin
Kimberly
*I received a free copy of the book, and a sock, in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
