Children's Picture Books

Beep and Bah

Author/Illustrator: James Burks
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Publication Date: March 2012
ISBN: 9780761365679
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: December 16, 2011

We’ve all been there – or at least our socks have! To the world of lost socks, where one each of countless mismatched, lost socks live. In this new, wonderfully entertaining tale, Beep the Robot and Bah the Goat embark on a journey to find a missing sock.

One early morning, while still groggy with sleep, Bah discovers one lone sock, lying alone and abandoned. Sniff, sniff – it smells like a sock but where is the other sock? They always come in pairs, don’t they? Bah takes the sock to his friend Beep and the robot suggests that they try to find the matching sock. Surely there has to be one, for where there is one sock, there must be two!

The friends set out on a great sock adventure and along the way meet up with many animals, both on land and sea, with rather comical results. Take note, the rock has the best reaction to Beep’s query about the sock. And yes, a rock doesn’t really qualify as an animal, but since Beep is asking everybody about the missing sock, why not a rock? The text is sparse, making it an enjoyable read for even those youngsters who struggle with books. Add in the lighthearted banter between Bah and Beep, and readers will certainly keep them turning pages:

Beep: "That, my friend, is the smell of adventure. Or it could be this sock. Hard to say, seeing that I don’t have a nose."

Bah: "Bah."

Beep: "I was just thinking the same thing."

The author/illustrator has worked in the animation industry for such giants as Disney, Warner Brothers, and Nickelodeon and this book’s illustrations has a decidedly Nickelodeon look to them - bright, silly, engaging. Add in a delightful story – with an “ah, hah, but of course!” ending to the mystery of the missing sock, and you have a winner.

Quill says: A very enjoyable read that will have youngsters looking for more adventures with Beep and Bah.