Super-Completely and Totally the Messiest

Olivia is very neat, and her brother Jake is "sort of, but not a HUGE slob," but their little sister Sophie is another matter altogether. Sophie's room is "seriously--I mean seriously--REVOLTING." Olivia simply can't get over Sophie's untidiness in every single situation--school, Halloween, even the bathtub is no sanctuary from the messy hand of Sophie. With her clothes and toys tossed higgledy-piggledy everywhere she goes, Sophie is her orderly sister's worst nightmare. However, her mother does want Olivia to mention that Sophie is also a "kind and very nice person," and their dad reminds Olivia that Sophie is smart and funny, and even their big brother Jake says that Sophie's great at puzzles and dancing. Olivia's only hope is that one of these days Sophie will "start to remember to stop forgetting to try NOT to be so super-completely and totally THE MESSIEST."

Judith Viorst, well-loved author of the classic Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, pulls out all the stops for her latest send-up of very real kids. Illustrator Robin Preiss-Glasser seems to have been inspired by Hilary Knight's illustrations of Eloise in her portrayal of the wildly exuberant Sophie and prim, exasperated Olivia. Sheer delight for neatniks and slobs alike. (Ages 5 to 9) --Emilie Coulter