Review: The Messy Book by Maudie Powell-Tuck

9781680100372

$16.99

Oh look, another book about my children.

When we walk through Walmart, my eagle-eyed children spot every errant canned good that has rolled under the shelves, and they absolutely MUST crawl under, retrieve it, and find the exact spot on the shelf where it goes - no matter how much impatient Mommy just wants to get the shopping DONE and go home.

But, will they pick up the mess in their own house? All parents know the answer to that is a resounding NO. For some reason stalling and distractions are considered infinitely more productive than actually sweeping everything into the toy drawer.

Cat certainly thinks so! Why go to all that trouble of picking up a toy and dropping it into the box right next to you, when you could maybe shove it all into the nearby jungle. Or blow it up. Or just jump on it.

Once everything is FINALLY picked up and put in its rightful place, the animals have a party to celebrate.

Which causes a mess.

Children will thoroughly enjoy the humor, and this is loads of fun to read aloud, pausing to raise your eyebrows or give a particular child that look that says, "I'm sure you know nothing about THAT, now do you?"

I may have to gift this one to Shane (3 years old tomorrow) along with the Christmas present I already purchased:

Yes, I'm serious. He'll be thrilled! Think about it, Moms and Dads - you can easily rescue Legos and hair clips (or choose not to), it will keep them busy for hours, and cleaning up will seem like fun for at least a day or two!

After that - well, it is still a fun book, highly recommended for preschool and early elementary.

***This book has been nominated for the Cybils Awards, and I am a first-round panelist in this category. There are many other panelists, and many MANY other great nominees, so a good or bad review here does not necessarily predict placement on the shortlist.