Being as big a fan of Beverly Cleary as I am, I can't believe I hadn't read this one before. As it turns out, I think this book would be a good read not only for elementary school-aged kids, but also for first-time expectant parents, especially those with pets, and also parents who are expecting their second child (to gently remind them not to inadvertently neglect the first-born).
Socks is a cat who was adopted by a lovely couple. He had a happy life until the day the couple had their own baby. As the first-time parents fussed over their precious Charles William - with a certain amount of comical cluelessness that I recall from my own first days as a new parent! - poor Socks was ignored, overlooked, and actually relegated to the laundry room.
The good news is, there is a happy ending. But along the way, I really felt for Socks! Poor thing. He deserved better.
