Oscar: The Big Adventure of a Little Sock Monkey

by Amy Schwartz, Leonard S. Marcus

When Oscar's best friend, Susie Green, forgets to bring the key for her pet rabbit's cage to the pet show, he embarks on an adventure of epic proportions. Oscar learns to read a map, navigates a city, and defeats a bully -- all in a day's work for this intrepid little sock monkey! Amy Schwartz and Leonard S. Marcus have crafted a sweet, funny story that proves that even little sock monkeys can accomplish big things.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 23, 2006

About the author

Amy Schwartz is the author and illustrator of many picture books for children, including Begin at the Beginning; Things I Learned in Second Grade; Bea and Mr. Jones, a Reading Rainbow feature; What James Likes Best, recipient of the 2004 Charlotte Zolotow Award; and a glorious day. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband Leonard S. Marcus, and their son, Jacob.

Reviews

[Pam]

Readers go on an adventure with Oscar as he leaves their home to get the rabbit cage key to Susie at school. Oscar plots his route and ventures out onto the street and then the subway and then back on the street to get to the auditorium and drop the key in Susie's pocket at just the right time. Clever and fun to see how the the sock monkey finds courage and takes these risks for love.

[Shelly]

So cute! My sock monkey doesn’t do chores.

[Kelly]

Oscar the sock monkey goes on an adventure to help his human friend, and encounters many things along the way.

[Tricia]

something didn't click. not sure what it was. even the girls seemed like, huh? and they thought the sock monkey was horribly cute. monkey has a mission to save the day...traveling on the subway and avoiding bullies in the name of his owner. eh.

[Heidi-Marie]

I really wanted this for my preschool group because the pictures are fun and I think they would enjoy the adventure. But I'm worried some concepts might be a bit past them. So perhaps I'll move it up to the K-5 group and decide whether or not I'm going to read or book talk it.

[Dolly]

This is a fun story of adventure and excitement, but it also teaches children about planning and reading maps, too. The little sock monkey is cute and the illustrations are fun. We enjoyed reading this story together.

[Victoria Dimmitt]

An adorable story that shows friendship has no bounds. Oscar travels across town to go to his owner and best friend's school to give her something she forgot at home. Younger children would love to read this book and follow Oscar as he goes on his adventure.

[Jenn Swanson]

A little girl brings her bunny for a school function but left without the key for the cage. Who are you gonna call? An adorable sock monkey! My daughter said that she wished her sock monkey could do what this sock monkey can do. Would recommend.

[Amber]

very cute story. It;s about a sock monkey that went on an awesome adventure. The Illustrations are so cute too.

[Paula]

A wonderful story of a little sock monkey who has an adventure to bring the key to the bunny cage to his best friend Susie. Might be to much text for a story time book.

[Emilia]

Terrible story, terrible writing, terrible sock monkey eats other people's cupcakes, terrible book.