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Quiet Time

The Sock That Went Missing

A five-minute story about one striped sock, a washing machine, and where socks actually go.

Updated 2 min read Reviewed

A short original story for reading aloud, about a missing striped sock. Takes about five minutes to read, suits ages 3 to 6, and ends with a question to talk about.

Photograph to come.

The short version

  • About five minutes to read aloud.
  • The repeated line — "Where is my other sock?" — is for your child to join in with.
  • Ends with a question, if you want one: where do they think the glove went?
Age
Ages 3–6
Difficulty
Easy
Where
Indoor

Mo had two socks. One was on his left foot. One was striped.

"Where is my other sock?" said Mo.

He looked under the bed. He found a spoon, a small blue car and a very old raisin. He did not find the sock.

"Where is my other sock?" said Mo.

He looked in the washing basket. He found a towel, a jumper and one glove. He did not find the sock.

"Where is my other sock?" said Mo.

He looked in the washing machine. He put his whole head in. It smelled like soap and rain.

And there, right at the back, stuck to the very top, was one striped sock.

"There you are," said Mo.

The sock did not say anything. Socks never do.

Mo put it on. Now he had two socks, and both of them were striped, and he was ready to go.

But on the way out of the door, he stopped.

Because there, under the shoe rack, was one glove.

"Oh," said Mo. "Now I have to find the other one of those."

Questions parents ask

How long does this take to read?
About five minutes at a slow pace. Faster if the joining-in bits are skipped, but they are the best part.
What age is it for?
Three to six as a read-aloud. Younger children enjoy the repetition; older ones enjoy the ending.
Is there anything to do afterwards?
Go and find a real missing sock. It works far more often than it should.

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