Stop That Mop!: Ready-to-Read Level 1

by Jonathan Fenske

Chase a runaway mop in this hilarious, rhyming Level 1 Ready-to-Read by Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor–winning author-illustrator Jonathan Fenske!

Meet a mop. The mop does not want to mop the slop. See the mop run away. Can anyone stop this mop?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Humor, Juvenile

32 pages, Paperback

Published January 7, 2025

About the author

Jonathan Fenske is the author and illustrator of the leveled readers Woodward and McTwee, Love Is in the Air, Guppy Up!, and A Pig, a Fox, and a Box, which was a 2016 Geisel Honor book. He is also the author of two picture books, Barnacle Is Bored and its follow-up, Plankton Is Pushy. Jonathan lives in South Carolina with his family.

Reviews

[Kate]

Funny early reader with lots of rhyming to practice sounds. I know the author was going with 'y' endings with bunny and pony but I did not like the fish being a fishy. Also, I think it's better for a beginning reader to not use all caps for words. But overall, a fun story that kids will like.

[Thompson McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stop That Mop!

Ready To Read Level One

by Jonathan Fenske

Illustrations by the author

Simon Spotlight

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

2025

32 pages

ISBN: 9781665932721

An unhappy mop is sick and tired of having to mop and mop and mop all the slop and glop, so they decide to run away. They run away from the pig who's chasing them. A bunny joins in the chase followed by a pony and a fishy. The group of animals continues to chase the nimble mop until they all reach a stop sign, warning of a cliff drop off ahead.

The mop is not done yet. They fall the cliff and are saved by a bird, but the mop wins freedom as the flabbergasted and tired chasers look on.

The fun rhyming story will likely be your toddler's favorite book. The mop is winsome, silly, entertaining and speedy. Fenske captures each animal's personality using colorful, almost cartoon-like facial expressions and body language. This book is a rare gem and a must-read. Beginning readers will be captivated by the easy rhymes featuring easy words to sound out and it will help them with their first sight words.

This picture book is a Theodor Seeuss Geisel Honor Winner and a Junior Library Guild Selection and will be a popular pick for awards this year.

Highly, highly recommended ages 18 months and up.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: I am a mop. I mop and mop. I mop. And mop.

Premise/plot: You may doubt that a book about a mop could be fun. But if you're familiar with Jonathan Fenske's work, then you know there's nothing to worry about! In this one, a mop who is TIRED OF IT ALL runs away. Many try to catch the mop....but will any succeed?????

My thoughts: I love, love, love Jonathan Fenske. I do. This one was fun. Is it my favorite of his? Probably not. Is it more entertaining that 90% of all other beginning readers???? YES. I thought this was a silly, fun, exuberant read. It did win the Geisel Award for 2026.

[Ccaywood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mop, tired of glop and slop, rebels and runs far away. The pig who was mopping runs after the mop and calls for help. A rhyming bunny, pony, and fishy join the chase, till a stop sign intervenes, A delightful surprise ending twists reader expectations. The big print will help beginning readers but the story can also be read aloud, doing the voices with feeling. Fenske shows how much humor can be created with a simple vocabulary.

The pictures enhance the silliness, especially the fishy flopping along in its bubble of water. The animal faces are wonderfully expressive but the baggy-eyed mop is the best. Stop That Mop! is everything a good early reader should be. It is an excellent choice for the 2026 Geisel Award.

[Sarah Alamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Sarah! We're so proud you read "Stop That Mop!" all by yourself! That silly mop taught you something important - everyone has feelings, even cleaning tools! The mop felt tired of always working and wanted to be free. You learned that it's okay to feel frustrated sometimes, but we can talk about our feelings instead of running away. You're becoming such a wonderful reader, and we love watching you discover new stories!

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This super cute story of a mop that is tired of cleaning up after everyone and runs away. The chase is on with a variety of animals (and a STOP sign) until a tragic moment, that ends hilariously. Fenske is a hoot. I have several of his other books and I am glad to be alerted to this one with the ALA Children's Book Awards. I believe my youngest readers will love this book and join me in the reading which is my favorite kind of read aloud with my JK crew!

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars (I really liked it)

This was really cute. I can see why it won the Geisel Award. I get a lot of Green Eggs and Ham vibes from the mop's attitude and the rhyming words. This would definitely be a great book for a classroom studying the -op word family!

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, please! Stop that mop!

The mop refuses to continue to do all the dirty work around the house, and runs off, but all the animals are determined to try to catch the mop.

Lots of lovely rhymes here---SLOP and GLOP plus HOP and CLOP and FLOP and many, many more.

You probably won't be able to stop reading Stop That Mop.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This simple delightful story in rhyme won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished American book for beginning readers in 2026.

“I do not want to mop your slop. … So I will RUN! Run far away!” And it does, outpacing all who pursue it, like the gingerbread man, but the mop succeeds even when it looks like all is lost.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mop is tired of mopping, and tired of cleaning up the slop and glop the pig drops, so it runs away. The bunny, the horse and the fish can't catch it either.

Combining the repetitive rhymes like Green Eggs and Ham, along with a plot like The Gingerbread Man, this is certainly a fun read for the newly independent reader. Fenske's illustrations are so funny.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rhyming early reader that uses the OP words to tell a funny story about a mop that won't stop. I will say there are many OP words so this ones works and the author has many words to use. Kids will like the story and it's a true early reader for beginning readers.

[Peacegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet a mop who does not want to mop the slop and glop. The mop has decided to run away! Stop, mop, stop! Will the mop come out on top?

I love silly wordplay and I loved this book, despite being a middle-aged librarian.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute beginning reader using the 'op' ending. Cartoonish illustrations and conversation bubbles will make this attractive to the Elephant and Piggie crowd.
Tie-in with phonics lessons on short O sound.
Fountas and Pinnell reading level: I

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mop is tired of doing its job so it decides to run away - just like the gingerbread man. Of course, everyone tries to Stop that Mop! And hilarity ensues.
Kids will love the rhymes and fun drawings. It definitely has a Gingerbread Man feel to it - just less complex in a good way.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave my 7 year old daughter little trouble.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun story with simple wording for beginning readers. They'll enjoy watching the mop get tired of working and run away from the animals. The rhyming text flows in an easy rhythm.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun easy reader. Lots of good rhymes and I really like that this book has a strong refrain.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4

2026 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award

[Nancycampbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Geisel Honor winner is a non-stop fun read for beginning readers!

[Jody Kyburz · Rating 4 out of 5]

So grateful for people like Jonathan Fenske who write books for the littles that are engaging and fun to look at.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read aloud especially for kids you can read it themselves.

[Jessica Calaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award (2026)


Super cute rhyming!

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This early primer certainly deserved its Geisel Award! I wish I had had this kind of humorous easy reader when I was in first grade! Silly cartoon illustrations enhance the humor.

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay for an early reader

[Michelle Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

2026 Geisel Award Winner

This will be really fun in Storytime.

[Franki Sibberson · Rating 5 out of 5]

2026 Geisel Award Winner

[Debrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A page-turning chase story to create reading motivation. Lowercase letters in the words might have supported a developing reader better, but the straightforward storyline is easy to follow. The mop rapscallion is made immediately relatable - the reader wouldn't want to clean up other critters' slop and glop, either! - and the cartoonish style suits the slapstick humor and makes for comically exaggerated, easy-to-read facial expressions. The language is fun to say (glop, slop, stop). And the ending is funny and surprising (and almost a cliff-hanger).

[Ann Haefele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well deserved Geisel honor award book. Perfect for the beginner reader with large text, humor, and rhyming words. Next time I’m mopping the floor I’ll remember this story with a smile.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny