Thank you Netgalley for giving me the privilege of reading and reviewing this book. All opinions are completely my own and in my own words.

A fun picture book with bright funny illustrations I believe children will enjoy. The questions to discuse with kids after the story are great conversation starters, so maybe not before nap time.

A very silly and vibrant book about sharing experiences rather than sticking to our own narrow ideals. I think it had a great moral, but fell a little flat for me.

This book was adorable! The pages were full of colors and the story was great too. I think there were too many words per page, but that is a personal preference issue for me.

This the story of Mouse and Moose brothers. Mouse is trying to make a dessert and his little brother Moose keeps getting in the way. I wish I had this book when my children were little. It teaches lessons in patience and forgiving. I like the discussions in the back open up dialogue for the family. The illustrations are colorful and sure to hold any child’s interest.

This was a sweet children’s book with an important message for young readers. The illustrations were captivating and definitely made me hungry. The charming characters allow this to be an engaging read for little ones. They will absolutely love this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zonderkidz for providing an e-ARC.

📖 The Big Mess: A Deliciously Funny Story of Siblings Learning to Get Along
✏️ written by Justin Whitmel Earley
🎨 illustrations by Janna Mattia

✏️ First line
"One day, they say, that big brother Mouse, Was baking a giant confection.
With chocolate and cherries and big ripe strawberries-
His cake was a work of perfection."

BUT little brother mouse comes bouncing in...

"YOU CRAZY MOOSE! JUST LOOK AT THIS MESS!"

🍰It seems like little brother is set on smashing big brother's baking creations. Until finally big brother decides to make something with his little brother that's meant to be smashed.

✨ Moral of the story
"His great realization was that his creations were best when shared with others."

The author points out in that note to parents that "What if grace means that God can make wonderful things, even out of big messes?"

💭 The illustrator caught my attention. I love her art work in "A World Wonder." The illustrations are bright and fun!

The story falls a bit flat for me. 💕 However I'm so proud of big brother Mouse for finding a way to include his little brother in his creative process being an example of forgiveness and demonstrating grace towards his little brother.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫 3.5 stars. We liked it.
Thank you @netgalley and @zonderkidz for a temporary e-copy in exchange for a review.

With great Joy and Love,
Katie
___________
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I love a children's book that is fun-forward with a lighthanded, hopeful (and important) message, and The Big Mess definitely fits that description. The fun: adorable characters, delectable desserts, wonderful rhymes, and plucky commentary from a roly-poly. The message: we can consider others and find new ways to play. Even more messages can be drawn out using the discussion questions in the back. A delightful read that kids and parents will come back to again and again!

The Big Mess is a fun and heartwarming picture book about two brothers learning to get along. When big brother Mouse tries to bake the perfect dessert, his clumsy little brother Moose keeps getting in the way—causing chaos and, of course, a big mess! Through humor, mishaps, and sibling love, this story shows that even when things don’t go as planned, life is better when shared with the ones we love.

This was so fun to read, I love the illustrations! I think it is a great message because we often carry these moments with us into adulthood. By showing grace when messes are made the children understand to give themselves grace as they go and grow through life. My own critique is that I wish there was more of a difference with the brothers names reading it especially with the rhymthic prose can be confusing.

A super cute story about a baking mouse named Mouse and his brother Moose, who always seems to make a mess of things. The story is short, sweet, and full of adventure, laughter, flexibility, and family. The artwork is adorable, and the message is a great one. I actually forgot it was a Christian children’s book until I got to the discussion questions at the end—such a thoughtful touch.

I’d love to read this with my niece, especially since she has a little brother who tends to mess up her stuff too—she’ll definitely relate!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the read!

A cute story about siblings but comes to a very quick conclusion that doesn’t leave room for both siblings to learn from each other. As a Christian book, with supplemental material in the back that references discussions of God, I wouldn’t add to a general library collection unless it would fit in the religious section which this would not.

Leaves you craving a sweet treat

This was a fun book that had me craving my own banana pie. I like that in this case rather than trying to control the scenario, they leaned into and embraced what could be done instead of not.

The illustrations felt action based and get the reader excited.

This book would make a great part of a lesson for siblings that bicker sometimes.

I received a copy of this book from Justin Whitmel Earle and Zonderkidz-Books | Zonderkidz. I am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own.

This was a cute, goofy, and creative story about siblings learning how to deal with conflict, compromise, collaborate, and appreciate each other’s differences. This book was entertaining and fun and had a lot of energy, both in the words and in the illustrations. I did feel like the names of the characters sometimes got a little confusing since they are so similar. I also appreciated the discussion questions at the end of the book and how it gives parents an opportunity to share the gospel with their kids.

This is the cute story of a mouse who is constantly interrupted by his little brother. There is a creative solution at the end of the book that makes each brother happy.

Adorable scenes and situations about collaboration.
Has a lot of promise.
Th art style is calming.

Super fun book! I was very entertained while reading this book, and I know for certain that little ones will be as well. The illustrations were full with energy and clearly demonstrated each and every mess that was made. There was never a dull moment in this book thanks to these awesome illustrations. Additionally, the rhyming scheme that was used allowed the story to flow effortlessly. It also makes for a more engaging story time with parents/caregivers. However, I do have one critique about that rhyming. On page 23, air does not rhyme super well with here, and I would alter it a bit so that the nice flow isn't disrupted. Lastly, the conclusion was very sweet and accurately displayed the benefits and results of brothers working together rather than against each other. Collaboration is important for little kids to see in the books that they read, and I thought that the solution was rather creative so, bravo!

My daughter and I read this together. She hadn't really wanted to read but as soon as we started she got into it. The book was beautifully illustrated and the storyline was funny and sweet. We enjoyed seeing the lovely cakes and pies, and the mess that moose made of each of them. I would definitely recommend this book. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read.

What a lovely little book- perfect for young readers who are being read to still. My little boy age 5 loved the easy rhyming and lyrical lilt to the words, easily getting caught up in the story.

A tale about Mouse and his brother Moose who is always messing up Mouse’s creations - but with the underlying message that sometimes it’s okay to make a mess- and that working together is best. A good lesson for any messy child.

A nice touch to find out at the end that there was a creature to find on each page - which enhanced the enjoyment.

Overall a great children’s book. Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC

this was so fun and hilarious! the art was so cute and i had such a good time reading this haha! need to get copy for my younger cousins!

This is a cute, fantastical story about an older sibling whose younger sibling constantly messes up his projects, and who learns how to adapt to his younger sibling's strengths so that they can work together. The story is silly and imaginative, and the illustrations are charming.

The story itself does not have a direct Christian message, but the author's note at the end does, and this note also includes more thoughts about sibling dynamics. Parents can use this story with kids to help teach a life lesson, but the story is so fantastical that the resolution doesn't easily translate into real life.

A hugely relatable book about the mess siblings make! Cute illustrations and a jaunty rhythm help this to race along to its conclusion with perfect reminder of the joy of sharing - a great message for those finding their siblings and their mess irritating! Great fun!