Review of Sock Lobsters
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Sarah Schmidt
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Review of Sock Lobsters
[Following is a volunteer review of "Sock Lobsters" by Michelle Bulriss.]
Sock Lobsters is an amazing children’s book written and illustrated by Michelle Bulriss. It is a little silly, it is a little fun, it is the ideal read for learning about the five stages of grief.
The story begins with an elderly woman and a magical ball of red yarn. Her first thought was of her granddaughter, Emily, and how she would love to make something for her. A week later, Emily receives a box in the mail, and after opening it, she comes face to face with her grandmother’s lovingly crafted lobster socks. They are an interesting pair, with one grumpy left sock, Sebastian, and one jovial right sock, Lola, both being able to talk, especially about humans’ stinky feet. Emily wears them, then she heads to the laundromat the following day. A conversation ensues between a cat, Bubbles, and the socks, after which the latter enter their first wash cycle. A mishap causes the pair to be separated, leading to a surge of emotions as they try to deal with the loss and find their way back to one another.
With talking cats and socks and the eternal warmth of grandmotherly love, Sock Lobsters breaks down a model of coping most people experience when grieving. The story is a short read, blending magical fantasy, important life lessons, and amazing writing. The illustrations should not escape mention, for they beautifully expressed the emotions of the characters.
I loved the dynamic between Lola and Sebastian, the foot-warming archetypes of yin and yang. They drive home the second most important lesson in the story. Sebastian was only able to see the bad things in the world, and Lola saw only the good; however, the two have a deep bond despite their differences. I liked the subtle symbolism of a persevering bond that was woven into the story.
The five stages of grief were wonderfully illustrated. It demonstrates how to work through massive rushes of emotions in such a manner that young children would find appealing. The likeability of the characters, as well as the significance of the message, caused there to be no element that I disliked. As I found no errors in Sock Lobsters, I assume that it has been professionally edited.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Sock Lobsters, in its brief but touching entirety, definitely warrants a perfect rating. I would recommend this book to children, particularly those learning to process difficult emotions. Its lighthearted but important message is something everyone who deals with grief should know about, so the target audience does not need to be of a specific age range. I would not recommend this book to readers who prefer full-length, fable-like stories.
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Sock Lobsters
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Sock Lobsters is an amazing children’s book written and illustrated by Michelle Bulriss. It is a little silly, it is a little fun, it is the ideal read for learning about the five stages of grief.
The story begins with an elderly woman and a magical ball of red yarn. Her first thought was of her granddaughter, Emily, and how she would love to make something for her. A week later, Emily receives a box in the mail, and after opening it, she comes face to face with her grandmother’s lovingly crafted lobster socks. They are an interesting pair, with one grumpy left sock, Sebastian, and one jovial right sock, Lola, both being able to talk, especially about humans’ stinky feet. Emily wears them, then she heads to the laundromat the following day. A conversation ensues between a cat, Bubbles, and the socks, after which the latter enter their first wash cycle. A mishap causes the pair to be separated, leading to a surge of emotions as they try to deal with the loss and find their way back to one another.
With talking cats and socks and the eternal warmth of grandmotherly love, Sock Lobsters breaks down a model of coping most people experience when grieving. The story is a short read, blending magical fantasy, important life lessons, and amazing writing. The illustrations should not escape mention, for they beautifully expressed the emotions of the characters.
I loved the dynamic between Lola and Sebastian, the foot-warming archetypes of yin and yang. They drive home the second most important lesson in the story. Sebastian was only able to see the bad things in the world, and Lola saw only the good; however, the two have a deep bond despite their differences. I liked the subtle symbolism of a persevering bond that was woven into the story.
The five stages of grief were wonderfully illustrated. It demonstrates how to work through massive rushes of emotions in such a manner that young children would find appealing. The likeability of the characters, as well as the significance of the message, caused there to be no element that I disliked. As I found no errors in Sock Lobsters, I assume that it has been professionally edited.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Sock Lobsters, in its brief but touching entirety, definitely warrants a perfect rating. I would recommend this book to children, particularly those learning to process difficult emotions. Its lighthearted but important message is something everyone who deals with grief should know about, so the target audience does not need to be of a specific age range. I would not recommend this book to readers who prefer full-length, fable-like stories.
******
Sock Lobsters
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Artwords by Beatriz M. Robles
