The Sock Thief

by Jeffrey Sprague

It's Christmastime in a small town in 1945 at the end of the war... and some of the town's residents, both human and animal, have found their lives torn apart in the aftermath.The Sock Thief tells the story of Scout, a carefree, good dog who loves people, his stuffed duckie, and everything stinky. When Scout suddenly finds himself homeless during the holidays, he receives aid from the most unlikely of his arch-nemesis, Lollipop - the next-door-neighbor cat who, despite a gruff demeanor, has a heart as soft as his fur. Lollipop introduces Scout to the neighborhood house-pets and Max, Tito, Stinky, and poorly-named Gary. Scout finds a new home in Stray's Field, watched over by Ole' Zeke and another newly-lost stray, Lucy the Labrador. As Scout adapts to his new-found position in town, he takes up a profession worthy of his that of a renowned sock thief. But his innocence is soon shattered when he is exposed to segregation, war, and evil-hearted dogs. Scout also learns about love, courage, sacrifice, and empathy - all the things that make Christmas so special.This magical, heart-warming tale is suitable for almost any age. Experience this soon-to-be-classic story with your loved ones this holiday season.Parent the story does involve some sad situations and one serious dog fight, but overall, the story is appropriate for most ages.

97 pages, Paperback

Published December 15, 2019

About the author

Jeff Sprague is a California native who grew up in Silicon Valley and became a successful software developer, spending 24 years in the field of interactive TV operating systems and video-on-demand applications. In 2017, he moved to a small town in the Sierra with his wife, 3 cats, and a ginger dog.

He has been writing since his mom first let him use her typewriter as a child. Since that time, he has written several books in several different genres: Slow Children At Play (humor), Thunder (historical fiction screenplay), The Sock Thief (children's book) and his new series, "The Errand of Angels" (mystery/thriller) featuring Altan Stalker, a reluctant detective doing his best to help others.