The Messy Kids by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Nicole Thompson

“The Messy Kids” by Lois Wickstrom is a children’s book that attempts to convey the importance of cleanliness and tidiness through the concept of “messy kids” who possess a whimsical quality reminiscent of pixies. However, I found that the original message of the book did not come across effectively. The imagery of the “messy kids” seemed more confusing than illuminating, and the child’s admiration for their messy ways felt contradictory to the intended lesson of cleanliness. Personally, I did not find this book to be my favorite from this author, as I believe there could have been a clearer and more engaging approach to teaching children about tidiness. Unfortunately, my 4-year-old grandson shared the sentiment and grew bored before we even reached the halfway point.