What Can a Mess Make? by Bee Johnson (Review)

Title: What Can a Mess Make?
Creator: Bee Johnson
Type: Fiction
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Date published: August 20, 2024

A complimentary physical copy of this book was kindly provided by Henry Holt and Co. in exchange for an honest review.

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

Kitchen clatter.
Milk and juice.
Syrup splatter.
Chocolate mousse.
Bowl of berries―
Red and blue.
A mess can make a meal for two.

From a cozy breakfast together to crafts, fort-building, kitchen spills, and bedtime rituals, these sisters make tons 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.

⤖ My Review ⬻

What Can a Mess Make? by Bee Johnson is a delightful children’s picture book that I thoroughly enjoyed! The illustration style encourages calm—even when the characters encounter negative situations. The soft lines and simple expressions create a soothing environment that pairs well with the story. The autumn color palette was pleasing to the eye for me, adding warmth and a sense of coziness to each page.

The story itself was fun without being overstimulating, which I appreciated. It gently shares the message about looking at things from a different perspective—how a mess could turn into something else and have value. I loved how the narrative encourages creativity and imagination, making What Can a Mess Make? a great read for kids and adults who need a little reminder that not all messes have to be cleaned up but rather could turn into something else entirely!