Customer Reviews

Super-Completely and Totally the Messiest!

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sophie is super-completely and totally the messiest girl that ever lived! That assessment, by Olivia, her perfectly neat big sister, just about says it all. And no matter where she is or what she's doing, be it school or parties, the beach, the farm, the circus or even the bathtub, she's a whirlwind of activity and impending disasters. But, as Olivia also tells us, she's kind and very nice, smart, funny and great at puzzles and dancing. She's one of a kind and her family loves her, just for being herself. Judith Viorst really captures the essence of an ever inquistive and busy youngster with places to go, people to see and things to do. Her wonderful hip text, told exasperatingly by older sister and neatnik, Olivia is only outdone by Robin Preiss Glasser's busy and detailed pen and ink line drawings with only Sophie and her mess highlighted in bright colors. Together, they've authored a picture book that will amuse and delight everyone in the family. Perfect for youngsters 5-9, Super-Completely and Totally the Messiest is a winner!

We just love the cheerful and happy illustrations that make this a really meaningful Judith Viorst book. Here, the beautiful pictures' exuberant humor, joy, and color add another dimension, almost another story, to a tale of how different 2 sisters and a brother can be. They really do embody "the genuine spirit of animation, the breathing to life, the swing into action," that Maurice Sendak says he considers "an essential quality in pictures for children's books" in "Caldecott & Co.," his book of essays on books and pictures. In fact, the pictures are so wonderful that you should look at the charming, wordless books Robin Preiss Glasser, the illustrator of "Super-Completely," has made with her sister: "You Can't Take a Balloon Into The Metropolitan Museum" and "You Can't Take a Balloon Into The National Gallery."

How you will rate this book depends on your personal habits.

Neat people will love it. Those who are a little clumsy and disorganized will feel hurt by it. Parents should be very careful in choosing whether or not to buy and read this book to their children. If you have a clumsy child in your household or neighborhood, avoid this book!

I graded the book down for the gratuitous put-downs aimed at those who have accidents!

Think of this book as Ms. Neat's view of Ms. Awkwardly Messy.

"My room is very neat -- like me, Olivia." The feeling of superiority begins there and becomes supercilious as the book progresses.

Her younger sibling, Sophie, gets excited and makes messes of almost everything. She is either clumsy, forgets to be careful, or is plain unlucky. Although there is token affirmation in the end ("mom says . . . Sophie's a kind and very nice person," "dad says . . . Sophie's a smart and funny person," and "Jake [her brother] says . . . Sophie's great at puzzles and dancing . . . ."), clearly the real message is that a klutz should be a butt for jokes. Come on! What kind of message is that to send to children?

Development rates vary a lot with children. Some are still a little awkward well into their teenage years, while others have wonderful small and large muscle coordination early. Children don't choose to be clumsy. They just are.

The perspective in the story could have been shifted to be Sophie's and emphasize how well she means. Then, it would have been a positive story. Having the "perfect" older sister explain her shortcomings makes it just a painful putdown.

The illustrations in the book rise well above the story. Sophie is a delighful-looking carrot-topped child with a smiling eager face in a colorful home and family. I liked her. I also liked the enthusiasm and warm heart behind her well-meaning mayhem. Maybe I feel that way because I'm Mr. Messy in our household.

Think about when intent counts and when results count with children. With children, if the intent is good, the results will eventually follow.

Is neatness always an advantage? When is it? When isn't it?

Enjoy everyone in your family, for all of their characteristics!

My 4 year old daughter loves this book so much, while already loving books, I believe this one has made her a book lover for life. The artwork is hilarious and the story itself is really funny. We can't help but crack up each time (like 4 x's a week) we read it. Great stuff.

I really want to recommend this book for anyone to read - grownups and kids alike. maybe it's because i'm an elementary education major, but i just found this book delightful and quite an enjoyable read. the illustrations are beautifully done, and the story is funny. i like the way the entire book is from the sister's point of view. it gives the book a depth that kids can relate to. i definitely recommend you pick this one up!

I originally purchased this book for my four-year old niece, who is a big fan of "Fancy Nancy." However, before I wrapped the book I decided to read it and I am glad that I did. Consequently, I did not give it to her. In a culture where our children are increasingly competitive, I believe siblings should be more supportive of each other. My niece has a brother, four years older than she, who presents the "Olivia" persona analogous to my niece's "Sophie-like" tendencies. To give a four year old a book which exemplifies more "you should be like me" than "just be the best you can be" is, in my opinion condescending and lacking in building a child's self-esteem. This book will be shelved and perhaps used as "what not to do" in a child psych class.

Older sister Olivia shares stories about her incredibly messy younger sister Sophie. The tales of Sophie's misadventures are humorous, and tempered by the obvious fondness between the practically perfect Olivia and impetuous Sophie. The pictures are wonderfully drawn in black and white, with Sophie painted in vivid color. Watch for a mortified Olivia in the background of most pictures. Sophie tries to emulate her older sister, but her own individual style always comes through. And while Olivia lists her sister's faults, she does not neglect to mention her strengths and virtues as well.

Got this book just because it was a Viorst and because I love her alexander books. The first time I did read it before reading it to my daughter I was not sure how my daughter would react to the book. She has not siblings as yet and can't really categorize her into either category ( neat or messy - she is a little of both)
but loved the way sophie makes a mess of every thing and how the older sister is as hoity-toity as older sisters get.

but would have loved it more if there was more of sophie's good qualities described that way there would be a greater balance to sophie's character.

My granddaughters are named Olivia and Sophie. I had to buy this book for them. If you love Eloise you will love Olivia and Sophie. The illustrations are wonderful. Lots of laughs within the pages of the book.

(From my daughter): "Not only do I like this story because of the illustrations, but because it explains why you should be very neat...or else you could be called a big humongous slob. I also like it because Sophie was kind of like me (a long time ago)."