Official Review: Sock Lobsters by Michelle Bulriss

ciecheesemeister · Post by **ciecheesemeister** » 05 Dec 2020, 08:27

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Sock Lobsters" by Michelle Bulriss.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Sock Lobsters is a unique and wonderful children’s book by Michelle Bulriss. The story begins with an elderly lady knitting her adult granddaughter a pair of socks that look like lobsters. The socks are magical, and when the granddaughter receives them, she can hear them talking to her.

One sock is named Sebastian. He is a bit grouchy and tends to see the dark side of life. The other sock is named Lola, and she tends to look on the bright side. The socks like each other and Emily.

One day when Emily takes the socks to the laundromat, Lola falls out of the basket on the way home. The story discusses the stages of grief that both Lola and Sebastian go through being separated from each other. Parents don’t need to worry about the story making kids sad, though. It does have a happy ending.

I think that the author did an excellent job of illustrating the stages of grief to young readers, and adults can benefit from the story’s gentle wisdom as well. I believe that the story was professionally edited as I found no errors in the text. The pictures are bright and compelling, and the text was easy to read against the background.

I found nothing to dislike about this book. Although it is written for children, adults can find comfort and humor in it as well. We have all struggled with losses. I related to Sebastian’s feeling of self-reproach when he was asking himself how he could have failed to notice that Lola was gone, being so caught up in seeing the sights on the way home from the laundromat. I had a little rescue cat who was very dear to me, and because I was working so many hours, I failed to notice how sick he really was and ended up having to have him put to sleep. The question “how could I have failed to notice how sick he was” will be in my mind for the rest of my life.

As well as the main story and purpose of the book, there are other small touches that I appreciated. The grandmother is a realistic-looking elderly woman, not a thin and perfect idealized depiction of an older lady. She is shown as being devoted and kind. I like all the characters in the book and even found myself worrying about Lola when she got lost.

I give Sock Lobsters an enthusiastic four out of four stars. I recommend this book to everyone except for people who really hate children’s books.

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Sock Lobsters
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Faithy_Goody_Star · Post by **Faithy_Goody_Star** » 11 Dec 2020, 11:05

This review shows that this book is an enjoyable one. I would love to read about these magical socks!

DEEPA PUJARI · Post by **DEEPA PUJARI** » 18 Apr 2021, 08:55

A unique fun book for children that will help them understand and differentiate between good and bad thoughts in life. Congratulations BOTD!

Mwatu · Post by **Mwatu** » 18 Apr 2021, 09:05

I love how this book is so good only people who absolutely hate books would not enjoy it. I am sorry about your cat and pray the question on your mind won't forever be a painful one. Lovely review!

Sou Hi · Post by **Sou Hi** » 18 Apr 2021, 09:08

Thanks for your review. This is a meaningful story, even though it's a children's book that features two talking socks. Since it has a happy ending, I guess Lola will return to Sebastian and Emily.

Hazel Arnaiz · Post by **Hazel Arnaiz** » 18 Apr 2021, 09:23

It is great to have books that teach children how to process difficult emotions. Thanks for the insightful review.

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 18 Apr 2021, 09:25

This is a unique and wonderful children’s book highlighting emotions, emotional development, grief, loss, SockPuppets as a communication medium. The book has a free sample on Amazon Kindle and has a well-written OnlineBookClub review. Congrats on the BOTD selection.

Timothy Rucinski · Post by **Timothy Rucinski** » 18 Apr 2021, 09:25

Grief can absolutely pulverize the feelings of even the most steadfast people. With children, grief is relentless. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Ms. Bulriss for recognizing this and creating a world for youngsters to develop coping skills, particularly during these trying times. If I had little ones in my life right now, I would order up a hard copy immediately. Congrats on BOTD.

Jsovermyer · Post by **Jsovermyer** » 18 Apr 2021, 09:32

This delightful children's book is about two socks shaped like lobsters. What a funny idea! Congratulations to the author for being chosen as BOTD. Thanks to the reviewer for your excellent review.

Post by **Bertha Jackson** » 18 Apr 2021, 09:37

Grief is hard at any stage of life. I appreciate books that help children cope with grief. Your review makes this book sound like it would be perfect for children during the difficult time of the death of a loved one. Thank you for your review.

Abacus · Post by **Abacus** » 18 Apr 2021, 09:37

"Sock Lobsters" by Michelle Bulriss - A happy tale about a grandmother who made a pair of socks that looked like lobsters and gave them to her grownup granddaughter. The socks, Lola and Sebastion, could talk, and one day Lola fell out of the basket and was lost. Sebastion and the granddaughter discuss their grief in a gentle. realistic way, hence a lesson we are never too young to appreciate. Loved the review. Thanks.

Aan Granados · Post by **Aan Granados** » 18 Apr 2021, 09:46

Childrens' books always and must-have humor, and that's the reason adults enjoy reading it too. Thanks for your review.

Pandora10 · Post by **Pandora10** » 18 Apr 2021, 09:48

This book explores the topic of grief and loss in a thoughtful and unique way. It also reveals personality traits; one that is optimistic and one that is pessimistic. The story reveals the stages of grief and how easy it is for us to wonder how and why something happened. I liked the illustration on the cover and of the gentle old lady knitting. The colors are bright and cheery so it should appeal to young children. It seems like there is a lot of wisdom to be gained from the way the story is presented for young and old alike. Thank you for the honest and open review and for sharing a personal story.

tarafarah7 · Post by **tarafarah7** » 18 Apr 2021, 09:51

I love when children's books are featured as the BOTD...you did a wonderful job with your review! Thank you!

Today's BOTD is a children's book that will be loved by readers of all ages. It that highlights the stages of grief in a gentle, easy-to-understand way and is filled with life lessons, relatable characters, and bright, realistic illustrations. I immediately put this one on my WTR list, ans I'm looking forward to starting it! Thank you, again!

Kavita Shah · Post by **Kavita Shah** » 18 Apr 2021, 09:53

Such a wonderful story. It has two socks representing two views of life. And If we say that the optimistic view is lost then we feel sad. You'll have to find your optimism back as life will not be the same without it.
You've written a wonderful review. I am really sorry to read about your cat.