The Mess

Carol Bodrug is a former elementary-school teacher with the Durham Board
of Education.

The Mess is a delightful story about a very messy family—Mom, Dad,
Noah, Emma, and their dog, Dexter—and their humorous attempts to tidy
up. When all the mess finally does get cleaned up, the family throws a
party for the neighborhood, and the house needs tidying all over again.

What’s special about this book is that children can create their own
versions of the story by placing word stickers on the blank spaces that
appear in strategic spots on each page. There are even blank stickers so
they can write their own words. After the child reads his or her own
story, the stickers can be peeled off and returned to the sticker pages
for reuse.

The story can be read aloud or silently in an endless number of
variations. The cartoonlike illustrations, done in acrylics, are bright
and lively, and project a sense of fun. The Mess could generate much
discussion and many suggestions if used in a group or classroom setting.
Children will enjoy the peel-off words and adding their own details to
personalize the story. Recommended for children who have a good reading
ability (at least Grade 3) or as a read-aloud book for younger children.