The Sock That Wouldn’t Stay On
A funny interactive read aloud story for toddlers about a wiggly foot, a stripy sock and one very silly pop.
Age: Babies and toddlers, 0–3 years
Theme: Dressing, body awareness, humour, movement and everyday routines
Read aloud style: Funny, repetitive, physical and easy for children to join in with
Small foot.
Warm foot.
Wiggly foot.
One little sock
waited on the rug.
Stripy sock.
Soft sock.
Sock with
a tiny loose thread.
One grown-up hand
picked it up.
The little foot
kicked once.
Kick.
The sock came close.
Closer.
Closer.
Over one toe.
Over two toes.
Over all the toes.
Stay on, little sock.
Tap the sock to pull it up.
Tap once to pull the sock up. Tap again to let it slip back.
The sock went up.
Shoop.
The toes went quiet.
The foot went still.
The sock sat there.
One second.
Two seconds.
Then the toes moved.
Wiggle.
The heel moved.
Wiggle wiggle.
The sock slipped down.
Stay on, little sock.
The sock said nothing.
It slipped again.
Nope.
One hand pulled it up.
The foot kicked.
The sock twisted.
The toes wriggled.
The sock puffed out.
Round.
Full.
Silly.
Then—
Tap the sock to make it pop.
Tap once to make the sock bounce. Tap again to make it still.
POP!
The sock flew up.
Not on the foot.
Not on the toes.
Not on the heel.
The sock landed
on the head.
Soft sock.
Silly sock.
Very proud sock.
One little mouth
opened wide.
Ha.
Then louder.
Ha ha.
Then all at once.
Ha ha ha.
The foot kicked.
The toes wiggled.
The sock stayed
on the head.
Stay on, little sock?
The sock sat still.
For once.
The little toes
wiggled in the air.
No sock.
Just toe.
Read Aloud Prompts
- Ask: “Can you wiggle your toes?”
- Ask: “Where did the sock go?”
- Ask: “Can you say nope?”
- Try the repeated line together: “Stay on, little sock.”
