Gr 3–5—A trip to the basement laundry to retrieve a missing sock turns into an epic journey as Milo ventures
through the never-ending cavern, making unusual friends and encountering danger. Hatke displays a genius for
setting as well as character; each level Milo descends features a different style of art, architecture, and sculpture. A
stellar story about courage and friendship.

An enjoyable read. Many of the pages are wordless but following the story arc is easy for readers of any level. Milo finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime while in pursuit of his baby sister's missing sock. Who could guess what kind of world exists in the basement and beyond? To quote Milo, "This is a really big basement". It's a thoroughly engaging read. You'll be as determined to find that lost sock as Milo! ( )

I enjoyed this thoroughly. It had mystique, heart, and charm!

At the heart of the story is a big brother and a good son wanting to fulfill his mother's request and the chaos that follows. Hatke masterfully wields sequential art/comics as a storytelling medium. ( )

Ben Hatke could not write a bad book if he tried. While his books are meant for kids, they pull at the heartstrings of all ages. In this book we follow Milo as he searches for his baby sibling’s sock. Milo and his family have just moved into the new house and the basement is a tad bit scary. This basement isn’t just scary. It’s crazy. It’s crazy big and Milo meet some new fantastic friends. They are very few words in this book. And it doesn’t need them. Ben creates not just a story, but a heart gladdening tale that you hope there’s a sequel to. This book is adventure from beginning to end and love from one scene to the next. In my eyes Ben Hatke can do no wrong and this is just another of his five star reads. ( )

How big is this basement?
...
This is a really big basement.
...
How far down do you think we are?
...
We must be at the bottom.

Cast of Characters
Milo (human/dreamer)
Sock Rat
Chuckles (skull/muse)
Weepie (eyeball with tentacles/visionary)
Belle (ghost)
The Gobbler (monster)

Milo, his mom, and twin babies have just moved into a new house, and when Milo's mom asks him to go down to the laundry in the basement to get his sister's special pink sock, it turns into an epic journey. Milo sees a "sock rat" run off with the sock, and he chases it down level after level; art and sculpture in the rooms and on the walls indicate that each level is another leap backward in time. Along the way, Milo makes friends with Chuckles the skull, who speaks in emoji; Weepie, a big eyeball with tentacles; and Belle, a ghost. Besides the sock rats, a huge, translucent green monster called the Gobbler haunts the underworld, consuming everything it can. Milo must be creative and courageous to regain the special sock and fight his way back to the surface - without abandoning his new friends. When at last he returns, his mom thanks him, and asks one more favor: could he get something from the attic? ( )