Super-Completely andTotally the Messiest by Judith Viorst is brilliantly illustrated by RobinPreiss Glasser. The text leaves lots of room for interpretation, and Glasser’s joyful, curly-haired, redhead protagonist brings the words to life. We meet young Sophie on the cover. She drops books and rain gear on the floor with an enthusiasm that evades the question of who will clean up.
This story has a subtle rising action, but
no obvious beginning, middle, and end. It’s just a story of how Sophie manifests
messiness by showering joy everywhere—and on everything. Glasser shows how Sophie
can create a mess while carrying a plate that holds a piece of chocolate cake—we
can’t look away because it’s slapstick comedy. Sophie’s family doesn’t scold
her. They ask her to try: try to be neat, to be careful, to pay attention. But
Sophie forgets. And we forgive.
This book is read aloud online by Lyons Learning Lab.
