A Perfect Mess

PreS-Gr 1—It's hard to stay clean in a messy world. Henry the rhinoceros usually doesn't mind being adorned with grass stains, mud smears, and mustard drips. But one morning he inexplicably awakes determined to stay clean—all day. And while he does manage to remain neat for most of the school day, all of his attempts to do so backfire chaotically on those around him. It all happens on school picture day, with predictably comical results. Children will enjoy reviewing the catalogue of spills and blunders, particularly a page on which the sources of each of the multicolored splotches on Henry's body and clothing are identified with arrows. However, some of the busier scenes demonstrating a cause-and-effect chain of events may be harder for preschool children to follow. The cartoon illustrations, drawn with ink pen, watercolor, and colored pencil, are in keeping with the whimsy of the story, showing Henry riding the school bus and attending classes with the rainbow assortment of big-headed animals who make up his class. The spare text (one to two sentences per page) makes this a brief read-aloud, while the detail in the images allows for more perusal if time permits. The familiar school situations are relatable, and the underlying message—that it's okay to make mistakes—is reassuring.