What do you think?
Rate this book
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.
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.
- GenresPicture Books
40 pages, Hardcover
Published April 21, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 1, 2026
A creative and compellingly illustrated book with a cute story and lots of personality.
I really liked the story, the cute narrative (and sounds for the children to enjoy) and elephants are an easy win in our household! I think my main struggle with this was the story didn't feel as much fun as I think it should be for the intended audience - little readers, at least mine, are less bothered by lots of storytelling and more compelled by fun illustrations and interactions between characters. I'm not sure this has a character - or character dynamic - children will run back to, but I think the illustrations will pull children back in even if the narrative doesn't quite.
I hope this author has more ideas for children's stories though, because I can see loads of creativity and actually a very considerate narrative voice in the telling - just a little injection of fun and well landed humour would have made this a five star for me.
ARC provided from walker books in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the story, the cute narrative (and sounds for the children to enjoy) and elephants are an easy win in our household! I think my main struggle with this was the story didn't feel as much fun as I think it should be for the intended audience - little readers, at least mine, are less bothered by lots of storytelling and more compelled by fun illustrations and interactions between characters. I'm not sure this has a character - or character dynamic - children will run back to, but I think the illustrations will pull children back in even if the narrative doesn't quite.
I hope this author has more ideas for children's stories though, because I can see loads of creativity and actually a very considerate narrative voice in the telling - just a little injection of fun and well landed humour would have made this a five star for me.
ARC provided from walker books in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2026
Just your classic story of a child going on a trip away from home (camping) and being too old (5 years old) to need their stuffies, but then realizing they cannot sleep without them. I really loved the loose line work of the illustrations and the vibrant colors, it reminds me of cartoons from Nick Jr in the early 2000s. I also really like that the guardian is referred to as "their grown up" leaving the relationship and gender of the adult to be interpreted by the reader and allowing for more open comparisons with non-traditional family types.
I also like how on the fly the guardian makes a sock rabbit so the child can sleep that was "sent by your stuffies at home so you wouldn't be alone". But the child assumes it is magic when they disappear after returning home (aka, return to being socks). This is a cute book and very silly. Definitely worth a read.
I also like how on the fly the guardian makes a sock rabbit so the child can sleep that was "sent by your stuffies at home so you wouldn't be alone". But the child assumes it is magic when they disappear after returning home (aka, return to being socks). This is a cute book and very silly. Definitely worth a read.
April 26, 2026
I liked the story, I thought it was cute and funny. The illustrations were colorful and complemented the story really well.
What I didn’t like is how the adult in the book is addressed as a grown-up and is referred as “they”. It is not ok to put it on a kids books without any warning. I am sure parents will have to find a way to address the elephant in the room and I feel they should have the choice to do it when they want to, and not because a kids book can’t choose a gender for the adult.
Again, a warning would be perfectly fine, that way you can choose to read it or not.
What I didn’t like is how the adult in the book is addressed as a grown-up and is referred as “they”. It is not ok to put it on a kids books without any warning. I am sure parents will have to find a way to address the elephant in the room and I feel they should have the choice to do it when they want to, and not because a kids book can’t choose a gender for the adult.
Again, a warning would be perfectly fine, that way you can choose to read it or not.
April 24, 2026
I really like this one! I especially appreciate how the adult is addressed as 'the grown-up'.
May 11, 2026
Cute idea, though the illustrations were a big meh.
May 15, 2026
Not recommending for mock Caldecott
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews