Socks

Socks, the once darling kitten of newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Bricker, has been displaced by an unnerving rival: newborn Charles William. Neil Patrick Harris (whose voice may be familiar from his starring role in "Doogie Howser, M.D.") skillfully enlists our sympathy for Socks, whose fortunes steadily worsen as Mrs. Bricker's lap and attention span shrink. With boyish humor, Harris invites listeners to see life from Socks's vantage point. Younger listeners (who may themselves feel misunderstood by the big people in their lives, especially after the arrival of a new sibling) will especially appreciate this perspective. Parents listening along will enjoy Cleary's sharp and humorous insights into family life. J.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

December 1, 2002
Gr 1-4-After a rough start, and a brief internment in a mail box, Socks the cat has landed on his feet. He belongs to the Brickers-a young couple who dote on him. Then a baby arrives in the household and Socks discovers that the people he'd trained so well no longer consider him the center of their universe. This is devastating, but eventually he finds a new place that everyone can be happy with. This is an hilarious book by Beverly Cleary (Morrow, 1973), told from the cat's point of view, and Neil Patrick Harris does a slam-bang job of presenting it. He provides voices for each character but, more importantly, he reads the story with humor and expression, bringing it to life. Listeners feel a kinship with Socks and root for his success, even while acknowledging his foibles. Both children and adults with roar with laughter at Sock's antics and cringe at his misdeeds. This is a great production that deserves to be enjoyed by a wide audience.-Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.