WHAT CAN A MESS MAKE?

Karissa Vacker's gentle voice ripples with mirth as she recites Bee Johnson's descriptions of the many things a mess can make: meals and snacks, props for imaginative play, art, a squabble, a reconciliation, and more. Lists of messes conveyed in bouncy rhyme unfurl alongside a jaunty soundtrack augmented by occasional sound effects. These last are often necessary to fully understand the nature of some of the messes. The sound of breaking crockery underscores how a "heavy platter" and "little hands" lead to "a change in plans." These ensure that listeners who enjoy the audiobook without the picture book will follow the verses' gist. (Those with Johnson's illustrations in hand will see a smashed bowl of spaghetti and the delivered pizza that becomes dinner.) An exuberant celebration. V.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2024]