Review Detail

Neat Nick's Big Mess

Kids Fiction 180

Bless this Mess

August 10, 2024

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

Nick likes everything just so. He always has. He's not a fan of unscheduled surprises, disorderly environments, or loud noises. When things are too much for him, he retreats to his super tidy room, but after a while, that starts to feel lonely. His parents, who have apparently not been paying attention or are simply misguided, decide to surprise him with an enormous, loud, slobbering dog. This freaks Nick out, but he must secretly want a dog, because he spends a lot of time interacting with the animal, trying to "fix" the mess rather than just retreating to his room. The dog spends the night with him, but in the morning is a mess AGAIN. Nick dutifully takes the dog on a walk, puts up with having to talk to other people, and is fairly understanding of the situation until the dog chases a squirrel and gets Nick all tangled up and covered in mud and leaves. Not being able to fix the situation, he hands the dog off to his mother and cleans himself up. That feels better, but when he tucks himself into bed, he feels lonely, and goes in search of the dog. In the end, he decides that having the dog around is okay, because "Nothing is neater than love".

Good Points

Otis' illustrations have the 1960s collage feel to them, rather like Bill Martin, Jr.'s 1967 Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Nick's bookshelf and bedroom look very Mid Century Modern as well! Nick's neatly parted hair and anachronistic suspendered short pants make him look very prim and proper. The enormous dog, in contrast, is a swirling mess of fur and detritus, which makes for an interesting juxtaposition.

While the message of this is a good one, I could have used more information. Does Nick have a diagnosed concern like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? If so, what were his parents thinking? If he does, this is great, but I would have like to see a more scaffolded support to his acceptance of the dog. Trust me, I spent a week with my daughter's cat and brushed her 8 times a day. There was still a swirl of loose fur everywhere all the time, which is why I have a ten pound, nonshedding shih tzu! It's okay not to like things being a mess!

For young readers (who aren't as diligent about wiping down the kitchen counters as I am), this is a good lesson in being flexible, and making allowances for those we love who might have a different approach to things. Books are a great way of making children less anxious about new experiences, so this would be a good book to read before getting a new dog, or as a way to help another Neat Nick see that it's okay to make a mess from time to time.

JUST NOT IN MY LIVING ROOM, OKAY?