What do you think?
Rate this book
No Clean Clothes
If Lacey can't remember to put her clothes in the laundry, her mom is going to make her wear a weird grandma shirt to school.... And who knows what could happen? With his classic style, Robert Munsch takes a normal, everyday situation and turns things upside down! When Lacey goes to get dressed for school she finds she has. . .no clean clothes! Her mom tells Lacey to wear the shirt her grandma gave her. It's a weird shirt that "Kiss me, I'm perfect!" Lacey just knows the other kids are going to make fun of her. On the way to school, Lacey meets a cat, a dog and an eagle. They all read her t-shirt, and give her a kiss! Then she meets a moose, who gives her a large wet moose kiss, right up the front of her face and over the top of her head. Lacey is thrilled - maybe this shirt is wonderful, not weird! "This is a story about Lacey, a girl from Stewart, B.C. All the animals in the story are really in Stewart. Not near Stewart, IN Stewart. The day I made up this story the kids could not go out for recess because there were two grizzly bears on the playground. Lacey was in grade one and was wearing a t-shirt that said, "GIVE ME A KISS HUG," says Robert Munsch.
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2009
6 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Robert Munsch
279 books1,673 followersRobert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Fordham University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and from Boston University in 1971 with a Master of Arts degree in anthropology.
He studied to become a Jesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after jobs at orphanages and daycare centers. In 1973, he received a Master of Education in Child Studies from Tufts University. In 1975 he moved to Canada to work at the preschool at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. He also taught in the Department of Family Studies at the University of Guelph as a lecturer and as an assistant professor. In Guelph he was encouraged to publish the many stories he made up for the children he worked with.
Munsch's wife delivered two stillborn babies in 1979 and 1980. Out of the tragedy, he produced one of his best-known books, Love You Forever. This book was listed fourth on the 2001 Publishers Weekly All-Time Best selling Children's Books list for paperbacks at 6,970,000 copies (not including the 1,049,000 hardcover copies). The Munsches have since become adoptive parents of Julie, Andrew and Tyya (see them all in Something Good!)
Munsch has obsessive-compulsive disorder and has also suffered from manic depression. In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that affected his ability to speak in normal sentences. He has recovered enough that he is able to perform live, but has put his writing career on hold until he is fully recovered.
He studied to become a Jesuit priest, but decided he would rather work with children after jobs at orphanages and daycare centers. In 1973, he received a Master of Education in Child Studies from Tufts University. In 1975 he moved to Canada to work at the preschool at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. He also taught in the Department of Family Studies at the University of Guelph as a lecturer and as an assistant professor. In Guelph he was encouraged to publish the many stories he made up for the children he worked with.
Munsch's wife delivered two stillborn babies in 1979 and 1980. Out of the tragedy, he produced one of his best-known books, Love You Forever. This book was listed fourth on the 2001 Publishers Weekly All-Time Best selling Children's Books list for paperbacks at 6,970,000 copies (not including the 1,049,000 hardcover copies). The Munsches have since become adoptive parents of Julie, Andrew and Tyya (see them all in Something Good!)
Munsch has obsessive-compulsive disorder and has also suffered from manic depression. In August 2008, Munsch suffered a stroke that affected his ability to speak in normal sentences. He has recovered enough that he is able to perform live, but has put his writing career on hold until he is fully recovered.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 14, 2026
No Clean Clothes is classic Munsch: chaotic, funny, and built around a kid‑sized problem that spirals into something wonderfully ridiculous. The premise, a little girl with absolutely nothing clean to wear, is instantly relatable to both kids and parents, and Munsch leans into the humor with his signature escalating style. Every page adds a new layer of silliness, and the payoff is big, bold, and delightfully over the top.
It’s a great read‑aloud. The rhythm is snappy, the dialogue begs to be performed, and the illustrations amplify the humor with expressive characters and visual gags. It’s also one of those stories that sneaks in a tiny bit of real‑world logic, responsibility, consequences, and the importance of laundry, without ever feeling preachy.
It’s not meant to be quiet or soothing; it’s meant to be fun. And it absolutely delivers on that front.
Overall, the book is energetic, silly, and a perfect example of why Munsch remains a favorite for both kids and grown‑ups.
It’s a great read‑aloud. The rhythm is snappy, the dialogue begs to be performed, and the illustrations amplify the humor with expressive characters and visual gags. It’s also one of those stories that sneaks in a tiny bit of real‑world logic, responsibility, consequences, and the importance of laundry, without ever feeling preachy.
It’s not meant to be quiet or soothing; it’s meant to be fun. And it absolutely delivers on that front.
Overall, the book is energetic, silly, and a perfect example of why Munsch remains a favorite for both kids and grown‑ups.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2018
No Clean Clothes! Is a story about a girl who has absolutely nothing to wear! She is forced to wear a "strange grandma shirt" that she received from her grandmother; it says Kiss Me I'm Perfect on it. At first, it seems like an embarrassing shirt, but on her way to school, she gets all sorts of animal kisses!
I want this shirt; it's a magical, strange grandma shirt that has powers to make animals love you? I want fifty!
I want this shirt; it's a magical, strange grandma shirt that has powers to make animals love you? I want fifty!
November 26, 2018
This cute and funny story is about young girl who doesn’t have a clean shirt to wear so her mother recommends she wear a shirt her grandmother gave her that says “Kiss me, I’m perfect”. At first, Lacey didn’t want to wear the shirt but she soon realized how great it was because a bunch of different animals started to kiss her. First it was a cat and then a dog and then a bird and then many other animals. When she got to school she was even kissed by a boy! But her favorite kiss was by a bear and soon Lacey got everyone a shirt that says “Kiss me, I’m perfect”. I would recommend this book for students 1st-3rd because it is picture book but also has more text than what younger children may like. But the illustrations are fun and lively that show movement very clearly. The theme of the story is try before no to something this could be taught in a classroom. Lacey didn’t know what a good reaction she would have wearing the shirt and she learned just how great it is.
December 21, 2020
No Clean Clothes by Robert Munsch tells the story of Lacey who can't find any clothes to wear to school that day. She regrettably ends up having to wear a "strange Grandma Present" shirt that says "Kiss Me I'm Perfect". Along her day she gets kissed by a bird, a cat, a dog, a moose, a classmate named Johnny and even a bear. By the end of the book, Lacey comes to love the strange Grandma present.
The beginnings of this book are very relatable. Lacey has no viable clean clothes to wear because she has either hidden them under the bend, lent them out, lost them or left them somewhere. It is equally relatable that she finds herself forced to wear clothing with a random saying that had been gifted to her by a family member.
As usual, Munsch delivered another engaging and silly read.
The beginnings of this book are very relatable. Lacey has no viable clean clothes to wear because she has either hidden them under the bend, lent them out, lost them or left them somewhere. It is equally relatable that she finds herself forced to wear clothing with a random saying that had been gifted to her by a family member.
As usual, Munsch delivered another engaging and silly read.
April 24, 2019
Lacey is looking for something to wear to school when she realizes she has no clean clothes. Her mother told her that the only clean shirt she has is from her grandma, but Lacey refuses to wear a shirt that says "Kiss Me, I'm Perfect". When mom convinces Lacey to wear it until recess, she agrees and walks to school. She gets many kisses from many different animals, even a boy from school.
I believe the focus of this book is to remind children to be appreciative of the gifts they receive.
I believe the focus of this book is to remind children to be appreciative of the gifts they receive.
March 19, 2025
Munsch left Annikin Publishing for Scholastic, because they agreed to publish more than one of his books in a year, but shoddy, slightly weird stories like these shows the wisdom in Annikin's approach. He was a great story generator, but his expertise was not in curation or quality control.
While he did go on to write some bangers for Scholastic, Annikin undoubtedly got the best out of Munsch.
While he did go on to write some bangers for Scholastic, Annikin undoubtedly got the best out of Munsch.
January 18, 2019
Funny 😅😂
Kiss me .. I'm perfect 💓
Kiss me .. I'm perfect 💓
February 20, 2019
Read this recently for a children's lit unit. A good book about realizing some things are not as bad as you expect them to be.
February 27, 2021
Same book as Kiss Me, I'm Perfect!
Read
April 13, 2021It's really good
December 29, 2022
4.5 stars. We love Robert Munsch. I love how he wove in grandparents and relationships and stepping outside of comfort zones with pleasant results.
March 9, 2023
Another classic Munsch story full of laughs :)
January 15, 2024
I looooove the illustrations in this book!
Read
June 17, 2025This is the same book as Kiss Me Im perfect by muncsh
August 13, 2020
This book was funny and entertaining while reading.
April 18, 2015
No clean clothes is about no clean clothes and also the kid is kissed because her shirt said kiss me I'm perfect. And a dog kissed her and a cat kissed her and a moose kissed her and she went to school and there was green slime all over her and her teacher made her clean up her face. My favourite character was the girl who had no clean clothes because she fed her underwear to the dog. I was ok with this book because it was kind of gross. Like when the moose licked her he put green slime all over her that was green like the grass and shiney and gross.
I would recommend this book absolutely to teach kids to put their laundry in the laundry basket like me or else this is what could happen.
I would recommend this book absolutely to teach kids to put their laundry in the laundry basket like me or else this is what could happen.
April 20, 2013
A book that teaches kids good habits about their laundry, but also about the consequences of never putting out your dirty laundry. If you don't do it, you'll have to wear an embarrassing grandma shirt to school. Fortunately for the protagonist, she also learns that what she originally thinks is an embarrassing grandma shirt, is actually the best shirt she owns! Double moral! Can't go wrong with Munsch!
November 25, 2015
(read as part of the book "Munich Mania"
not one of my favourites.. but it was cute all the same! I loved the incorporation of animals and animal kisses! I don't remember this one from when I was young.. may be my first time reading this one .. I liked the ending a lot! the note from Robert after the story was a nice personal touch.. it tells us how the story originated!
not one of my favourites.. but it was cute all the same! I loved the incorporation of animals and animal kisses! I don't remember this one from when I was young.. may be my first time reading this one .. I liked the ending a lot! the note from Robert after the story was a nice personal touch.. it tells us how the story originated!
April 2, 2016
No Clean Clothes was a favourite of mine when I was younger. Robert Munsch is an author who really understands kids. A girl pulls her room apart trying to find clean clothes and finds nothing clean. A crisis occurs and she doesn't know what to do. Will she eventually find clean clothes?
February 19, 2025
Lacey can’t find any clean clothes to wear to school. She has to wear a t-shirt that she doesn’t like that her grandmother had given her. On it is Kiss Me - I’m Perfect, and she always gets teased when she wears it. This time very surprising situations occur! Funny story and illustrations.
January 12, 2015
The green slime from the moose's kiss was really gross!
July 9, 2020
My favorite
April 18, 2015
Cute book. Doesn't have much to do with laundry. Though I did enjoy the moms small bit.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews