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Friday, September 29, 2023

The Messiest Monster on Mill Street, by Sarah Sparks , Sypha Vendez (Illustrator)


 Publication Oct. 1, 2023

Oh, my, Max is, well, a mess. He just lets things pile up until they're out of control. His mess becomes a nightmare where dust bunnies chase him. Max needs help. This book will help children learn that no matter how big their mess, you can take control. Quite frankly, as a procrastinator who would far prefer to be doing something more fun than sweeping or cleaning up glitter and glue, yuck, I could definitely sympathize a bit with Max. 

Told in lyrical rhyme, Max's story details the problem. It's pretty simple. He's created a mess. The mess begins to take over, however. That's where the dust bunnies and even crumb soldiers come into play. And wait until you see what the stray crayons are up to. Children and even we adults, sigh, may recognize a part of themselves in Max. It isn't too late, however, they're shown. By first recognizing the problem, then tackling its parts one thing at a time, Max makes amazing progress. The dust bunnies are banished! The crumb army is gone. The fun illustrations and words show how it can be done, as well as showing the subtle change in Max's appearance. Max even looks happy, maybe even proud of himself, as he puts away toys and cleans up after himself. He never quite becomes the neatest monster on Mill Street but he's made a start. Maybe that's the biggest message, to get started.

Thanks #NetGalley and #ViaNovaProductions for this subtle example of how children can learn to take charge of their own space without feeling overwhelmed. The illustrations are fun and I liked the lighthearted, lyrical approach. I'm thoroughly enjoying meeting these monsters of Mill Street, even if Max's plight did make me flinch at the pile of papers near my laptop. Should be a fun book for parents and teachers and would definitely make a great gift idea.

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