What Can a Mess Make?

by Bee Johnson, Bee Johnson (Illustrator)

Overview

In this gorgeously illustrated rhyming picture book, two sisters spend their day playing at home and leaving joyful, cozy messes in their wake.

"This book doesn’t just capture the chaos of childhood–it throws a parade and celebrates it. Bouncing beautifully from the whirlwind of a messy kitchen to the cacophony of a makeshift band, Bee Johnson’s lovingly crafted masterpiece is a rollicking good time that will make you want to put all the screens away and make a mess (and a memorable day) of your own." –NPR Books

Kitchen clatter.

Milk and juice.

Syrup splatter.

Chocolate mousse.

Bowl of berries—

Red and blue.

A mess can make a meal for two.

From breakfast to bedtime, from pillow fort to pillow fight, these sisters make all kinds of messes.

Imaginative, playful, forgiving, delicious messes.

And their messes make a day full of possibilities.

With bouncy rhyming language and warm illustrations, What Can A Mess Make? inspires readers to embrace their imaginations, linger in the beautiful messes on every page, and make some messes themselves.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250900241
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	08/20/2024
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD360L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Bee Johnson was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She studied illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design and has worked as a commercial and editorial illustrator since 2010. Her client list includes the New York Times, Warby Parker and the Guardian. She lives in the Northeast with her husband, their two daughters and a beagle named Banjo. What Can A Mess Make? is Bee’s first picture book.

Bee Johnson was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She studied illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design and has worked as a commercial and editorial illustrator since 2010. Her client list includes the New York Times, Warby Parker and the Guardian. She lives in the Northeast with her husband, their two daughters and a beagle named Banjo. What Can A Mess Make? is Bee’s first picture book.

Editorial Reviews

An NPR Best Book of 2024

A BookRiot Best Book of the Month

An Indie Next List Pick

"This book doesn’t just capture the chaos of childhood–it throws a parade and celebrates it. Bouncing beautifully from the whirlwind of a messy kitchen to the cacophony of a makeshift band, Bee Johnson’s lovingly crafted masterpiece is a rollicking good time that will make you want to put all the screens away and make a mess (and a memorable day) of your own." –NPR Books

"Childhood is full of big ideas that begin with big messes. Johnson’s debut picture book as an author and illustrator celebrates these messes that help child imaginations grow . . . a realistic, joy-filled glimpse into the sisters’ day as they create mess after mess after mess." –BookRiot

★ "Just as life's lemons can be turned into lemonade, god-awful messes can make masterpieces. So demonstrates What Can a Mess Make?, Bee Johnson's expertly executed debut picture book in rhyme." " —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"Rhyming text and charmingly clutter-filled scenes capture both the ingredients and the fun that can come from making a mess. . . . A childhood scamper through simple pleasures of sibling fun." —School Library Journal

"The sisters’ love shines through as they work out new solutions in this house that looks like a place where creativity is valued. The illustrations include many details to expand on the spare, rhythmic text. . . . As these lively girls invite the reader to take part in their marvelous mess, who knows what they might make next?" —Booklist

From the Publisher

07/01/2024

K-Gr 2—Two sisters spend a day delighting in the creative process as they make a mess in the kitchen, throughout the house, and finally in their bedroom, where they collapse into a messy heap of a good night's sleep. Rhyming text and charmingly clutter-filled scenes capture both the ingredients and the fun that can come from making a mess out of the simple materials at hand and enjoying (most of the time) the results of said mess. Be it from "kitchen clatter/ syrup splatter" transforming into a tasty breakfast or blankets and pillows in the living room transforming into "a mess can make a place to rest," the energetic pair collaborate to enjoy a day full of creativity and camaraderie without a single piece of technology to be seen. VERDICT A childhood scamper through simple pleasures of sibling fun made with the materials found around them, this is a delightful book to share, especially on those "there's nothing to do" days of summer.—John Scott

School Library Journal

Karissa Vacker's gentle voice ripples with mirth as she recites Bee Johnson's descriptions of the many things a mess can make: meals and snacks, props for imaginative play, art, a squabble, a reconciliation, and more. Lists of messes conveyed in bouncy rhyme unfurl alongside a jaunty soundtrack augmented by occasional sound effects. These last are often necessary to fully understand the nature of some of the messes. The sound of breaking crockery underscores how a "heavy platter" and "little hands" lead to "a change in plans." These ensure that listeners who enjoy the audiobook without the picture book will follow the verses' gist. (Those with Johnson's illustrations in hand will see a smashed bowl of spaghetti and the delivered pizza that becomes dinner.) An exuberant celebration. V.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2024 - AudioFile

2024-05-17
Two siblings make messes throughout the day, with sweet and fun results.

Berries and chocolate mousse are a delicious treat for the children, even as they leave syrup spills in their wake, while crumbs from an outdoor tea party become a feast for ants and squirrels. Repurposed boxes, tins, and a hose are transformed into musical instruments, and cushions and blankets turn into a classic pillow fort. Sometimes messes result in treasured items accidentally getting broken and the two siblings squabbling, but things—and bonds—can soon be mended or made into something new. Johnson’s rhyming text pairs with homey artwork depicting a rustic setting. As each scenario unfolds, the author/illustrator lists various objects—“magic markers. / Missing caps. / Glue and pom-poms”—before revealing the project the protagonists have been working on. The repetitive ebbing and flowing pattern of the words and the narrative establishes a calming tone that sets up the characters and readers alike for a well-earned bedtime, though the mess doesn’t end here: Time for a pillow fight! The eye-catching details in the artwork and the question of what each mess will evolve into keep the book as engaging as it is cozy. Characters present white.

An imaginative snapshot of daily life that elevates domestic messes into a soothing lullaby. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews