What Can a Mess Make?
CCBC Review:
What can a mess make? A clever rhyming text and cozy, colorful illustrations offer a series of delightful answers to the question posed by this picture book’s title while chronicling the activities of two sisters over the course of a day. “Kitchen clatter. / Milk and juice. / Syrup splatter. / Chocolate mousse. / Bowl of berries. / Red and blue. / A mess can make / a meal for two.” Following that tasty breakfast, the duo engage in a series of creative projects and imaginative play before an argument (“A mess can make us scream and shout.”), a time out, and apology bracelets (“A mess can make things good as new.”). A dinner disaster (“A mess can make / a change in plans.”) leads to cleanup and, finally, bedtime (“A mess can make / a good night’s sleep.”). The rhythm of the narrative scans beautifully, making this a terrific choice for reading aloud, while the details in the illustrations heighten the story’s charm. ©2025 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Bee Johnson
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 3-7
Age Range:
Babies/Toddlers (birth – 3)
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Patterned text/Repetition
Sisters
Stories in Rhyme
Times of Day
Publishers:
Henry Holt, Macmillan
Publish Year: 2024
Pages: 40
ISBN: 9781250900241
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Johnson