Parents will relate to the daddy's frustration in cleaning up mess after mess. Children will like the girl's messy play. In "What's Going On?" at the end of the book, Dr. Linda C. Mayes explains that children explore their world through messes. Children do need to learn good behavior, but they also need opportunities to explore. Parents can provide special times or places for children to make messes. I Love Messes! shows a wonderful compromise between parents and their children.

Author Robie H. Harris does a wonderful job showing the parent's and child's interactions with humor and kindness. The illustrations are bright and fun. The story is told through the little girl's perspective so adults and children catch her excitement. I read this book to a kindergarten class, and they loved it. The kids roared as the little girl kept adding to the mess. We agreed the funniest part showed the girl's dog slurping the mess and leaving multi-colored paw prints! To all parents, grandparents, babysitters, and teachers, I Love Messes! will remind you of childhood when messes were fun!