Official Review: Everybody Loves Sacks by Jay Crookston

[CataclysmicKnight]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Everybody Loves Sacks" by Jay Crookston.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Have you ever seen a children's book that said right in the title that it was for people under 5 and over 21? I sure hadn't until I came across Everybody Loves Sacks: A Saucy "Read Out Loud" Tale for Kids Under 5 Years Old (As Well As Over 21)! Full of double entendres, Jay Crookston's children book about a dog named Sacks manages to walk the fine line between raunchy and fully safe for children.

Everybody Loves Sacks is a short little tale about a family that decides to adopt a dog. After a bit of deliberation, the name "Sacks" falls into their lap as the dog starts to play with a paper sack. This name happens to be a bit ornery, though, and discussing the various things that happen can sound rather dirty if you say his name just the right way.

The entire book is based around toying with his name, and each page leads up to a different situation. Jay does a good job of writing each of these little scenes in a way that really is safe for kids. I hate when people say something is safe, but there are still loads of situations where a kid is going to ask what a word means or why something is funny and a parent has to lie.

There was only a single situation where I was a little put-off, and it's at the very end of the book. Here, the author individually lists how everyone loves Sacks and where they love him the most. Dad loves Sacks in the backseat of his car and mom loves Sacks in her office, for example. But then it's written that "most of all, the kids loved Sacks". This is something that plays safely with the young children reading it, but as an adult that gets both meanings, it's a little awkward. I would've preferred if Everybody Loves Sacks was about a couple without any children that adopted a dog.

The artwork in the book is also equally fitting for adults and children. Perhaps even more than the writing itself, the artwork illustrates the dual meanings of different instances with Sacks. For example, one page mentions that Sacks "wore rubbers for protection" when it was raining outside, and it shows Sacks upright in a raincoat with an umbrella while a cat is beside him drenched by the rain. I'm not going to explain why that's so fitting, but if the image in your head right now makes you laugh, then this book is definitely for you.

I had an okay time with Sacks. I may not LOVE Sacks, but he's the star of a fairly funny book. It's clear the author put a lot of time and polish into the book: the book is truly "clean" for kids despite each page having a second meaning on it, the artwork is excellent, and I didn't find any errors at all. I'd give Everybody Love Sacks 2.5 stars if I could; it lies right in that valley between okay and good. The aforementioned level of polish is what's leading me to rate it 3 out of 4 stars, and I entirely agree with the author as far as the recommendation goes: young children who like dogs or adults who like double entendres. On the book's Amazon page, people are recommended to buy it as a gift for a slew of situations, and I can definitely seeing Everybody Loves Sacks being a unique surprise gift for adults getting a new dog.

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Everybody Loves Sacks
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[kelso9326]

This sounds like the perfect book for the future smart a** parent I aspire to be. Haha. I also love your recommendation as a gift for a dog parent. What a fantastic idea!

[Bhaskins]

This could make bed time reading more enjoyable for my husband. He’s over typical children’s books!

[Meg98]

This sounds like a witty and fun read. It seems like a refreshing take on a typical children's book as well. Thanks for this great review! Cheers:)

[Kabui-nj]

This is a book that sounds interesting especially due to the age group it captures. Adults and children would enjoy reading. Thanks for this wonderful review.