Christopher, Please Clean Up Your Room!

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Christopher is an “A” student. He is a good athlete, and a helpful
neighbor, and he even does his chores. His only weak spot is his
bedroom, which is so messy there is fungus growing behind the door and
his friends and family refuse to visit any more. If Christopher’s
human contacts have given up on him, his pets have not. His two
goldfish, who are slowly choking in a fishbowl Christopher has not
cleaned in months, beg a passing cockroach to help them. The cockroach
devises a plan that involves bringing in thousands of his friends to pay
Christopher a midnight visit. Christopher is so frightened by the sudden
cockroach invasion that he cleans up his room. His parents and friends
are amazed. Christopher never tells anyone why he has changed, but he
remains a neat and tidy boy forever more.

Itah Sadu, has built a solid reputation as a performing children’s
storyteller. Unfortunately, in the transition to print, much of her
vibrant speaking manner has been lost. Roy Condy’s illustrations are
enjoyable, but they cannot improve the story. The result is a
well-illustrated but rather ordinary yarn. Not a first-choice purchase.