Sockflea: A Stuffie in the Wild

"Droll humor abounds in Dockrill’s narration, which perfectly captures a youngster’s mentality, pairing beautifully with Byrne’s thoroughly enticing digital art." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Rollicking and irreverent, this any-time ode to independence—and parental innovation—doubles as the vacation read-aloud of the year. Don’t leave home without it (spare socks optional)!

This little elephant is going camping for the first time, and does not need to bring ANY STUFFIES. You don’t need stuffies in the wild, OK? Not when you’re FIVE! Not even when it’s dark (very dark) and the sky is endless black, and there are crunchy scrunchy noises all around. Why didn’t the grown-up insist on packing stuffies? Enter Sockflea, who may look like a rolled-up ball of grown-up socks, but NO. Sockflea has been sent by the stuffies back home to look after their friend on vacation. Bold, quirky character art by a New York Times-bestselling illustrator meets high action, slapstick humor, and genuine heart in a witty interactive romp. Brimming with personality, this playful picture book will charm young children test-driving their confidence while managing big emotions—and tickle their grown-ups to boot.Droll humor abounds in Dockrill’s narration, which perfectly captures a youngster’s mentality, pairing beautifully with Byrne’s thoroughly enticing digital art. . . . Friends are literally what you make of them in this highly amusing jaunt into the unknown.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Digitally­illustrated in vivid colors, the book offers readers something to laugh at on every page. Told from the young elephant’s perspective in a hilarious voice, this story will give even the youngest readers a book that entertains and delights. This book is a surefire hit for story hours, providing laugh-out-loud ­moments contained in an adorable bundle of elephant energy.
—School Library Journal

Emphatic text amusingly reveals adult and child perspectives, while digital cartooning feels as loose and bouncy as the elephant’s personality, with wobbly lines and watercolor-style washes that capture both daytime delights and the midnight meltdown.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)Laura Dockrill is an award-winning author, illustrator, and performance poet. She writes for young people of all ages, including novels and works of poetry and theater. Her picture books include Angry Cookie and The Lipstick, both illustrated by Maria Karipidou, and Gray, illustrated by Lauren Child. In 2020, she was nominated for a BAFTA for her short film Goldfish, which she cowrote. She lives in London

Eva Bryne is the acclaimed author-illustrator of Along Came Coco: A Story About Coco Chanel and Supernana. A New York Times bestselling illustrator with a background in fashion illustration, she lives on the West Coast of Ireland.