Tumble Tower

by Anne Tyler, Mitra Modarressi (Illustrator)

A very messy princess in a very tidy royal family has the opportunity to prove that there are advantages to not being neat

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Princesses

1 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1993

About the author

Anne Tyler was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1941 and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. She graduated at nineteen from Duke University and went on to do graduate work in Russian studies at Columbia University. She has published 20 novels, her debut novel being If Morning Ever Comes in (1964). Her eleventh novel, Breathing Lessons , was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1988. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Reviews

[Colton W · Rating 3 out of 5]

This princess is disgusting that's why I rate it three stars.

[Helyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a woman with ADHD, this book is one of the most precious and affirming things I have ever read. The cultural narrative of cleanliness being morally and practically superior is ableist and oppressive and a lie. Fight me.

I'm gonna have to buy this one (my mom picked it up for me at the library, because she is a great mom and knows that even though I'm 23, this book was written specifically for me). The fact that it was the clean people who learned to be messier is such a powerful message and I'm not sure I've ever read a book that expresses this before. Disorder can be generative, safe, resourceful, comforting, protective, unavoidable, neutral, valuable, welcoming, and fun. Just because other people aren't like us doesn't mean that they're better than us. Grow an orange tree in your carpet and feed the people you love, because some things can't and don't need to be changed or fixed.

Looking at some of these other reviews, I know that many may think that this level of uncleanliness is "disgusting," but honestly fuck that noise. I will continue to do my best to maintain healthy and hygienic living spaces, but I also know that being messy is something about my brain that will NEVER go away and I don't don't deserve to be degraded and dehumanized for trying to find the beauty in that. It's honestly wild that neurotypicals are so incapable of adapting to other people's ways of doing things, while the rest of us have to do it all the fucking time just to survive. Go live in your soulless white box of a "minimalist" apartment and leave the rest of us to actually find joy in life.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book--because I too keep a messy room.
2nd graders really enjoy hearing this story read aloud.
Are messy rooms always bad--that is the question to be pondered.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely rate picture books because I simply have read so many worthy ones that I would be here for days and still not have rated them all. This one, though, is special to me because it is written by one of my all-time favorite authors, Anne Tyler. The delightful illustrations are the creation of Tyler's daughter, Mitra Modarressi.

I read this story to my oldest granddaughter, and she wanted to take it home with her. We both enjoyed this story about a messy little princess whose messy habits end up saving the day.

[Simona Dreca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favola illustrata, veramente piacevole.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A girl's messy room is a resource for flood supplies! What a novel idea!

[jrm555 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you have to read every book an author has written.

[Uri Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth rereading! By the end, Molly's family members learn to appreciate that there can be value in her messiness. And the book manages to convey the message without any hit-you-over-the-head preaching.

Many authors of books for grownups have tried their hand at writing picture books. This book is one of the few successes. (Yes, the author is THAT Anne Tyler). Good job!

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure what to think about this book. Does it have a moral? It depicts four members of a royal family, three of which who are neat and orderly and one who is completely messy. Molly is always being chastised for her mess. But during an emergency, it is messy Molly who comes to the rescue.

Perhaps this story is meant for parents (like me) who are always picking on their children to pick up their rooms; perhaps it is meant to show that there are different kinds of people and that we should be more tolerant of those who are unlike us. And perhaps those among the more neat of us should relax a little. I'm not sure, but we enjoyed the story and saw a little bit of ourselves within the tale.

[Whitney Watercutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh wow! I have been searching for this book for a long time, and on a fluke it is back in my life! This is a cute children's story about a messy princess who's father wants her to clean her room. As it turns out, her messy room saves the entire royal family. It was a treasure for messy children (like myself) and made me feel as if my messy-ness was truly just resourcefulness, and that my parents were clueless old nutters.

[Kelley Hazen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple story, easy to relate to, fun sense of humor. Allowed for great interaction and discussion of the pictures - wonderful drawings by Mitra Modarressi. It was fun to see what award-winning author Anne Tyler would come up with for a children's book. The same wry humor is there! Also great, challenging vocabulary!
My students reaction was OK, not overwhelming.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

While King Clement the Clean, Queen Nellie the Neat and Prince Thomas the Tidy all enjoy spotless bedrooms, Molly the Messy keeps her room in disarray and likes it that way. And, when the castle floods, there are some advantages to the messy room.

[jenna Hudrlik · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really liked the illustrations in this book

[Donna Berkowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

[Mollie!]

One of my favorite childhood books :)

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I do some re-labeling of items in the collection, I took time to read this one. Really, really enjoyed it! Princess Molly the messy is a wonderfully strong girl character!

[peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great children's book from one of my favorite authors!!!!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

ENJOYED