What a Mess!
Springboard. Friends. Stage 2 Series
on Goodreads (18)
What’s inside...
It is a yucky, miserable, rainy day, and Mouse is fed up! 'Don't worry,' says Bear. 'We can still have fun inside.' Soon they are racing round the house on their bikes, building a giant tree house and baking a huge, gloopy cake!
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-7
Length
25 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Felix felt when everything was a mess?
What would you have done if you were in Felix's situation?
Why is it important to clean up after ourselves?
What are some ways we can work together to keep our spaces tidy?
Can you think of a time when you helped clean up a big mess? How did it make you feel?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive voice tones to mirror the emotions Felix might have felt during different parts of the story to help your child connect with the character.
While discussing the questions, relate them to your child's personal experiences with messiness or cleanliness at home or school to make the conversation more relatable.
Praise your child for thoughtful answers or interesting questions they might have about the story, encouraging a deeper interaction with the themes.
Consider a post-reading activity, like cleaning up a room together, to reinforce the book’s themes practically and enjoyably.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: In 'What a Mess!', children witness the protagonist dealing with the consequences of not taking care of their room. The story emphasizes the importance of maintaining cleanliness and order.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by taking initiative in organizing their own spaces, such as picking up toys after playing or keeping their school desk tidy.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: The book showcases the character facing and solving the challenge of a messy room, using creativity and resourcefulness to find solutions.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to approach their own challenges, like solving puzzles or figuring out schedules, with a similar creative and proactive mindset.
Example Lesson: Independence
Explanation: As the character in the story tackles the task of cleaning without adult intervention, it promotes the value of self-reliance and accomplishing tasks independently.
Real-World Application: Kids learn to take on responsibilities such as completing homework or preparing simple meals by themselves, fostering a sense of independence.
Example Lesson: The joy of achievement
Explanation: After cleaning up, the character feels a profound sense of satisfaction and joy. This illustrates the emotional reward of achieving a goal.
Real-World Application: Children can relate by experiencing pride and happiness from their own achievements, whether it’s a well-done school project or mastering a new skill.