shahrun's review against another edition
2.0
This book isn’t my favourite Mr Men. It is really about two a bullies called Mr Neat and Mr Tidy who presume they know best and take over Mr Messy’s life. Even the pictures are a bit crappy.
jadejade's review against another edition
4.0
Re-read
There's a couple ways to interpret this one.
1) Mr Messy is a stand-in for the child audience: children are often messy like Mr Messy, and sometimes their parents sweep in like Mr Neat and Mr Tidy, to tidy the children and the children's mess despite any protest. This makes the story a cautionary tale. If you're as messy as this, just you watch out, yuk yuk yuk.
OR
2) Mr Messy is a stand-in for a person who does not exercise self care: people who care about their situation may sweep in like Mr Neat and Mr Tidy, and help out, even though objectively Mr Messy's mess is none of their business. This is a more nuanced message.
Mr Neat and Mr Tidy did not ask for, nor receive, permission from Mr Messy; they just saw a need, and did all that they could. There's even a moment where Mr Neat and Mr Tidy are afraid that their efforts have got them into trouble with Mr Messy. But in the end Mr Messy was appreciative of the intervention.
Basically, sometimes people will not ask for help when they need it, and while helping such people is meant as a good deed, it is possible that your efforts will earn you their ire. That's actually a really useful message.
... Why does this series make adults think so hard?
There's a couple ways to interpret this one.
1) Mr Messy is a stand-in for the child audience: children are often messy like Mr Messy, and sometimes their parents sweep in like Mr Neat and Mr Tidy, to tidy the children and the children's mess despite any protest. This makes the story a cautionary tale. If you're as messy as this, just you watch out, yuk yuk yuk.
OR
2) Mr Messy is a stand-in for a person who does not exercise self care: people who care about their situation may sweep in like Mr Neat and Mr Tidy, and help out, even though objectively Mr Messy's mess is none of their business. This is a more nuanced message.
Mr Neat and Mr Tidy did not ask for, nor receive, permission from Mr Messy; they just saw a need, and did all that they could. There's even a moment where Mr Neat and Mr Tidy are afraid that their efforts have got them into trouble with Mr Messy. But in the end Mr Messy was appreciative of the intervention.
Basically, sometimes people will not ask for help when they need it, and while helping such people is meant as a good deed, it is possible that your efforts will earn you their ire. That's actually a really useful message.
... Why does this series make adults think so hard?
sean67's review against another edition
4.0
third book I have read in my pile of Mr Men books from the opp shop and another great read. Mr Men books are at once humorous and have entertaining if somewhat ridiculous stories, but what else do you want from a Mr Men book! I tell ya what else!!
beth_l's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A fun story for kids. Don't be messy.
calistareads's review against another edition
4.0
My nephew read this and after the story he looked at me and said, “You’re like Mr. Messy. You need Mr. Neat and Tidy to clean up your room.” I had to laugh. Yep, that’s what Grad school will do to you. It’s true. Calling Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy - please help. I would rather read than clean is also one of my problems. I like a neat and tidy room, but if I have time to clean or read, I usually will chose reading. This is a problem. So I would welcome a Mr. Tidy anytime to keep the place clean so I can read. This is the great issue of life.
Mr Messy lives up to his name. He lives in a pigsty. One day he meets some OCD people who clean for a living - Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy. They come and clean up for him. How nice would that be. Easy and simple.
Mr Messy lives up to his name. He lives in a pigsty. One day he meets some OCD people who clean for a living - Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy. They come and clean up for him. How nice would that be. Easy and simple.
belgianbooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
Loved it for the VERY young audiences!
Had to read this book for college.
Had to read this book for college.
templetontherat's review against another edition
1.0
Mr. Messy is one of those charming little Mr. Men books that almost all people should be familiar with. If these books didn't plague your childhood, I suspect you aren't Earthen. Unfortunately the nostalgia glasses were thick when it came to Mr. Messy and his pals Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy, and while the small book is good for children in that it's okay for them to read it, to have it read to, and to practice reading with, it isn't on the top of the list.
Of course being a childrens book there are things that must be either excused or appreciated in a different light as opposed to books for an older audience. Mr. Messy is light and quick, but not lightly or quickly paced. The dialogue is basic and while there is a little fun going on between the sentence finishing best friends Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy, the prose is just flat. Books by Dr. Seuss, for example, have a bouncing joyful energy to the words and the word choice and the sentence structure but Roger Hargreaves' Mr. Messy doesn't feel fun at all. It just kind of is.
The next problem the book has is the less than clear moral, which is a bit interesting since the book is about cleaning. See, the conflict of the story is that Mr. Messy doesn't want to be Mr. Clean. Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy force themselves on him and his home and wash and brush and clean and scrub and comb it spotless. And what's the resolution? Does Mr. Messy kick them out and learn to appreciate and respect himself for who he is, delivering a Sesame Street worthy monologue about being an individual and loving who you are?
Yeah-no. No he doesn't. No, the story ends with him submitting to the pseudo-rape of Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy and liking it. The conflict is resolved when the protagonist learns to conform and make everybody else feel much better who they are and hide who he is.
What kind of message is that for kids? What?
This tale of the unfortunate loss of identity and innocence is accompanied by some simple drawings which are a little too simple. Any kid with a Crayola marker could draw them, and maybe that's the point, but it just cheapens the story.
I do have to say that I like Mr. Messy's character design. He's a big pink ball of squiggles with a smiling face, what's not to love? Sure, it isn't the most original look, but it suits the Mr. Men world and is charming all the same.
Who aren't charming? Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy. They wear opposing suits, Mr. Neat in white and Mr. Tidy in black, in bowler hats. Except for whatever reason, Mr. Neat wears a black hat as well. That does seem at all neat and tidy to me. Worse than contradicting their own reason for living, Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy are humans! Humans in the land of the Mr. Men! Unheard of! Unthinkable! Unacceptable! Average humans have no place in the world of Mr. Men. They're out of place and uninspired, and even as a child I thought that.
In closing: Mr. Messy is a weak addition to the Mr. Men line, and it won't be teaching kids anything useful. Pick it up if your young one is a fan of the franchise or you're like me and just eat up childrens books.
Of course being a childrens book there are things that must be either excused or appreciated in a different light as opposed to books for an older audience. Mr. Messy is light and quick, but not lightly or quickly paced. The dialogue is basic and while there is a little fun going on between the sentence finishing best friends Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy, the prose is just flat. Books by Dr. Seuss, for example, have a bouncing joyful energy to the words and the word choice and the sentence structure but Roger Hargreaves' Mr. Messy doesn't feel fun at all. It just kind of is.
The next problem the book has is the less than clear moral, which is a bit interesting since the book is about cleaning. See, the conflict of the story is that Mr. Messy doesn't want to be Mr. Clean. Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy force themselves on him and his home and wash and brush and clean and scrub and comb it spotless. And what's the resolution? Does Mr. Messy kick them out and learn to appreciate and respect himself for who he is, delivering a Sesame Street worthy monologue about being an individual and loving who you are?
Yeah-no. No he doesn't. No, the story ends with him submitting to the pseudo-rape of Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy and liking it. The conflict is resolved when the protagonist learns to conform and make everybody else feel much better who they are and hide who he is.
What kind of message is that for kids? What?
This tale of the unfortunate loss of identity and innocence is accompanied by some simple drawings which are a little too simple. Any kid with a Crayola marker could draw them, and maybe that's the point, but it just cheapens the story.
I do have to say that I like Mr. Messy's character design. He's a big pink ball of squiggles with a smiling face, what's not to love? Sure, it isn't the most original look, but it suits the Mr. Men world and is charming all the same.
Who aren't charming? Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy. They wear opposing suits, Mr. Neat in white and Mr. Tidy in black, in bowler hats. Except for whatever reason, Mr. Neat wears a black hat as well. That does seem at all neat and tidy to me. Worse than contradicting their own reason for living, Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy are humans! Humans in the land of the Mr. Men! Unheard of! Unthinkable! Unacceptable! Average humans have no place in the world of Mr. Men. They're out of place and uninspired, and even as a child I thought that.
In closing: Mr. Messy is a weak addition to the Mr. Men line, and it won't be teaching kids anything useful. Pick it up if your young one is a fan of the franchise or you're like me and just eat up childrens books.
lohn's review against another edition
3.0
Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy pretty much kidnapped poor Mr. Messy.
Also, I need Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy at my house. LOL
Also, I need Mr. Neat and Mr. Tidy at my house. LOL
si0bhan's review against another edition
3.0
Ah, Mr Men and Little Miss, how wonderful you are!
These books made up so much of my childhood. No matter what I would go ahead and pick one up. I worked my way through them all a couple of times. Each one has a wonderful story for the child to engage with, each character being fun to read.
Everyone has a bias for their favourite character, yet every book is delightful.
These books made up so much of my childhood. No matter what I would go ahead and pick one up. I worked my way through them all a couple of times. Each one has a wonderful story for the child to engage with, each character being fun to read.
Everyone has a bias for their favourite character, yet every book is delightful.
pussreboots's review against another edition
3.0
I can't remember if this one is my son's or his grandmothers.