Children’s Books – Books
Bocchi and Pocchi : A Tale of Two Socks
Written and illustrated by Noriko Matsubara
Publisher: Troika Books
Age range: 3+
Paperback, full colour illustrations, 23 x 23cm, 32pages
Bocchi and Pocchi are no ordinary pair of socks. They are the best of friends; then one night Pocchi disappears! Can these woolly friends ever find each other again? A charming and unusual tale, illustrated in soft pencil colours. Undoubtedly a modern classic.
978-0-09573013-0-6 • £6.99 • Pub: Feb 2013 • Rights: World
Bocchi and Pocchi and the Bird
Written and illustrated by Noriko Matsubara
Publisher: Troika Books
Age range: 3+
Paperback, full colour illustrations, 23 x 23cm, 32pages
Bocchi and Pocchi meet an injured bird- she can’t fly back to her nest. Helped by a friendly spider and Grandma mouse, the two socks help the bird to their cosy home. And when they awake in the morning they find some unexpected guests have arrived!
978-1-909991-01-9 • £6.99 • Pub: May 2014 • Rights: Troika Books
Bocchi and Pocchi's Big Surprise
Written and illustrated by Noriko Matsubara
Publisher: Troika Books
Age range: 3+
Paperback, full colour illustrations, 23 x 23cm, 32pages
Bocchi and Pocchi have found a caterpillar in the kitchen!
They want to take care of him, but who on earth eats cabbage for breakfast? Soon Bocchi and Pocchi’s new friend will give them a wonderful surprise!
Third of the ‘Bocchi and Pocchi’ book series.
978-0-09573013-0-6 • £6.99 • Pub: Feb 2013 • Rights: World
REVIEWS
Bocchi and Pocchi : A Tale of Two Socks
“The humble sock will never seem the same after finishing this eye-catching picture book.”
(The Independent, July 2013)
“The colours are all bright and eye catching and each one dominates the page beautifully … A really delightful first reader and/or bedtime story book.”
(Our Book Reviews, August 2013)
“This adorable tale of the separation and reunion of two little socks is bound to prove a favorite, with its cute, quirky illustrations and surprise, happy ending.”
(Teach Nursery Issue 3.4, May 2013)
“I borrowed this from the library to read to a 2½ year old little girl and she loved it so much that I had to keep on renewing it! In the end, I decided to buy it for her and now, when she comes to visit, it’s the first thing she makes a beeline for. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve read it but no matter because it’s a delight each and every time. Little Ava now finishes the lines of the story, enjoys describing all the different socks and loves Bocchi and Pocchi so much. I wish I could knit so I could make them for her!” (Customer Reviews on amazon.co.uk, November 2015)
“I have a three-year-old son and I volunteer to read to fifty toddlers every week. I just read this book for the first time today and the children LOVED it. The story is simple and yet very moving, and the artwork is gorgeous. Highly recommend.” (Customer Reviews on amazon.co.uk, April 2013)
“I love this book! I’ve bought 5 copies so far, one for every friend with a young child and one copy for me (signed by the author!), even though I have no children nor plan to. Never thought a story about socks could be this moving. I hope there are sequels.” (Customer Reviews on amazon.co.uk, May 2013)
“I bought this for my Niece’s first birthday in September and I am so thrilled with it. It’s a lovely book with beautiful pictures and a unique story.” (Customer Reviews on amazon.co.uk, May 2013)
Bocchi and Pocchi and the Bird
“Socks as you have never seen them before! … The illustrations are a delight – bright and simple and full of fun. And there’s a surprise for them the next morning! I love the inclusion of instructions for knitting a child’s very own Bocchi and Pocchi socks. An unusual and engaging story.”
(Parents in Touch, July 2014)
“Wolly sock friends Bocchi and Pocchi are proving a popular pair of foot-hugging heroes as they jump into action to save a bird in distress… A wonderfully quirky story about a two truly close-knit friends!”
(Lancashire Evening Post, July 2014)
”Enchanting picture book for little ones. The illustrations are delightful and the story is so sweet. The 2½ year-old I read this to absolutely loves it. This is the second Bocchi and Poochi book by Japanese artist Noriko Matsubara – I do hope she writes some more.”
(Customer Reviews on amazon.co.uk, October 2015)
Bocchi and Pocchi's Big Surprise
“Bocchi and Pocchi, two close-knit sock friends, have become a shoo-in success for inventive picture book author and illustrator Noriko Matsubara… Matsubara’s delightful story, packed with her colourful, eye-catching illustrations, includes a charming little musical sing-along celebration of Twirly Socks at the end of the book. You can bet your boots that this lovable pair of socks will be back…”
(Lancashire Evening Post, August 2016)
“Great book both for children and adults. Wonderful colour and cute characters with a sweet and heart-warming story. Highly recommended!”
(Customer Reviews on amazon.co.uk, September 2016)
“The Bocchi and Pocchi stories have become a big hit with my 3 year old. We went to a story time at our local library with the author Noriko, a delightful lady who is brilliant with children and very enthusiastic about her stories. My little boy was a bit too excited to concentrate at first as his friends were also there but he loved the puppets Noriko brought and enjoyed making his own felt version of Bocchi and Pocchi… My son has asked to read them everyday since we got them but I think this one is his favourite. It’s really triggered his imagination and he’s gotten good at remembering parts of the story. This a delightful tale about the socks and their new friend caterpillar. My toddler was worried that the caterpillar was sick but then fascinated when he instead turned into a butterfly. A sweet tale for a young child.”
(Customer Review on amazon.co.uk, March 2018)
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