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Makeup Mess
Best-selling author and illustrator Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko create another madcap adventure about a little girl named Julie, her love of makeup, and how she learns that "less is more."
Julie has saved up lots of money--$100! Depsite her mother's concerns, Julie spends it all on cosmetics, including plenty of lipstick, eyeshadow, and perfume. Once it's on her face, she fancies herself as pretty as a movie star, but her parents' reactions are less than complimentary. The same goes for the mailman, who falls right over! After she washes it all off, her mother and father think she's merely using less of it, and praise her looks--and Julie slyly ends up selling all of the products to the neighborhood kids for her new hobby--dress up!
Julie has saved up lots of money--$100! Depsite her mother's concerns, Julie spends it all on cosmetics, including plenty of lipstick, eyeshadow, and perfume. Once it's on her face, she fancies herself as pretty as a movie star, but her parents' reactions are less than complimentary. The same goes for the mailman, who falls right over! After she washes it all off, her mother and father think she's merely using less of it, and praise her looks--and Julie slyly ends up selling all of the products to the neighborhood kids for her new hobby--dress up!
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
6 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
About the author
Robert Munsch
290 books1,667 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
December 21, 2020
In Makeup Mess, Robert Munsch tells the story of Julie, a young girl who saves up all of her money and spends it on makeup. Excited, she puts on lots of makeup and accessories and goes downstairs. Shocked, her parents and even the mailman yell and faint in surprise when they see her. Realizing that she did something wrong, Julie takes off all of the makeup and sells it to other girls in the neighbourhood and she discovers that she is most beautiful without the makeup. The book concludes with Julie spending her money on clothes for dress up and her parents having a similar reaction of shock/disappointment.
While I recognize that the message was meant to communicate that Julie didn't need makeup to be beautiful, it inadvertently also communicates that Julie should look a certain way to fit in. There is nothing wrong with Julie wearing no makeup just as there is nothing wrong with her wearing the most dramatic makeup. Similarly, nothing is wrong if Julie wants to dress up in the most extravagant second hand clothes. In general, this book seems to implicitly reinforce both societal norms and gender norms ( for e.g. "all (and only) the girls in the neighbourhood came running" when Julie was selling her makeup). This was not my favourite Munsch read.
While I recognize that the message was meant to communicate that Julie didn't need makeup to be beautiful, it inadvertently also communicates that Julie should look a certain way to fit in. There is nothing wrong with Julie wearing no makeup just as there is nothing wrong with her wearing the most dramatic makeup. Similarly, nothing is wrong if Julie wants to dress up in the most extravagant second hand clothes. In general, this book seems to implicitly reinforce both societal norms and gender norms ( for e.g. "all (and only) the girls in the neighbourhood came running" when Julie was selling her makeup). This was not my favourite Munsch read.
January 4, 2026
Makeup Mess is classic Munsch: a simple premise that spirals into full‑blown absurdity with impressive speed. The humor comes from the sheer escalation — each attempt to fix the situation only makes it worse, and the book leans into that momentum without hesitation. It’s energetic, easy to read aloud, and visually chaotic in a way that matches the tone perfectly.
It’s one of those books that keeps the pace brisk and the reactions big. The structure is predictable in the best way: setup, escalation, and a punchline that lands cleanly. It’s not subtle, but it’s not trying to be — it’s built for fun, and it delivers.
Overall, the story is fast, silly, and reliably entertaining.
It’s one of those books that keeps the pace brisk and the reactions big. The structure is predictable in the best way: setup, escalation, and a punchline that lands cleanly. It’s not subtle, but it’s not trying to be — it’s built for fun, and it delivers.
Overall, the story is fast, silly, and reliably entertaining.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2018
Honesty, I’m not just reading children’s books to pad my Reading Challenge stats. I love literature (and music and TV) of all sorts. I work in an elementary school and my first rabbit hole in the library was indigenous children’s lit, then a selection of Residential School books and now I’m touring the greatest hits of children’s lit. You know...Mo Willems, Scaredy Squirrel, Dr Seuss, Franklin, Arthur, Clifford, Pigeon, Elephant and Piggie. Munsch deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as these books.
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September 29, 2020I personally love this book. It was funny and witty. The colors and the pictures went great with the story line. This young girl thought make up would make her look beautiful and look like movie stars, and when she put it on it for sure made people fall to the floor! She bought 100 dollars worth of make up at the store just so she can feel pretty. In the end she realizes that her natural face is more beautiful than her with lots of make up on.
July 25, 2025
citing this book for my love of makeup as a child
November 29, 2017
This was not my favorite book by Robert Munch just because I felt like it wasn’t as vibrant as his other stories. In the story, Julie is a young girl who saved up all her money to buy one of every makeup item at the drug store. After experimenting with different looks and scaring her mom, dad, brother, and mailman, Julie decides she is beautiful enough without makeup. After this realization she decided to sell all her makeup and invest in dress up. This book teaches students that they should embrace their natural beauty and do not need make up. I do think think this book encourages students to embrace being young a play. As I was reading it made me think about all the little girls and boys that think dress up is the best thing in the world. I would suggest this book for any girls that are struggling with confidence and inner beauty.
October 14, 2020
This book gave me the message that you can be beautiful without any makeup. I enjoyed this story which was about a girl who spent all of her hard earned money and even some of her brother's money on make-up to make herself feel beautiful. She put on a lot of makeup only to realize in the end that she didn't need it and that she is beautiful just the way she is. She ended up selling the makeup and getting her money back and even paid her brother back! This would be a great book to read for self-love! The illustrations were nice and very colorful, especially when she had her makeup on. I would recommend reading this book, and I would more than likely read this book again.
March 10, 2019
I’m rereading some of the stories I grew up with as a child.
I remember feeling so interested by makeup as a child. I would steal my Mom’s lipsticks and perfumes all the time to create some sort of concoction, and I ended up getting in so much trouble because of this. Makeup Mess brought back those feelings of curiosity and wonder towards makeup!
I remember feeling so interested by makeup as a child. I would steal my Mom’s lipsticks and perfumes all the time to create some sort of concoction, and I ended up getting in so much trouble because of this. Makeup Mess brought back those feelings of curiosity and wonder towards makeup!
February 18, 2024
It has some elements of vintage Munsch, but I feel like Bob makes a mistake and writes from a parent's point of view here, and slides in the dubious moral of: "You look better without makeup, hon."
I read it once to kids and it went over alright, but it didn't feel right to give that message to kids.
I read it once to kids and it went over alright, but it didn't feel right to give that message to kids.
November 26, 2017
One of my favourites of all time!
March 13, 2018
I don't ever remember this book from childhood so not sure if it's a newer book by this author. It was okay lol.
April 22, 2019
great book
June 16, 2020
Genre: Fiction
Grades: K-2
I enjoyed this book, but it felt a little forced.
Grades: K-2
I enjoyed this book, but it felt a little forced.
August 23, 2020
Quite hilarious...I especially liked the end where she makes a good profit, and discovers that no makeup is best!
October 25, 2020
This book is a cute depiction of a little girls first time wearing makeup. I think many young girls would love reading this story and find it very entertaining.
January 22, 2021
I have a few issues with this but it's classic Munsch at pretty good.
January 24, 2022
💅💕🎀Love is the hardest habit to break, and the most difficult to satisfy.🛍🛒
February 8, 2024
Like almost all Robert Munsch books, this story is outrageous and funny. It also has a nice message about being good as you are at the end.
June 9, 2024
This one did have a good message- you don’t need makeup to be beautiful 🥰and the main character was funny too
January 1, 2017
Robert Munsch is my favourite childhood author. Loved reading this to my niece and nephew! It has a great message about beauty (and it's funny too).
September 9, 2025
Julie has $100 to spend on anything she wants. And so, she decides to spend it all on makeup. She arrives at home with all sorts of products and she proudly declares "I'm going to make myself beautiful!" And so, she decides to try on a few different looks that she is super proud of. Instead of wowing everyone, she stuns them into a stupor. She thinks she is as beautiful as a movie star. But, as it turns out, the best look is the one that she has naturally.
When I was seven years old, I was gifted a Cover Girl cosmetics set. Sure, I had children's makeup with children's lip balm and faint eyeshadow. But this stuff was the real deal. Real mascara, real eyeliner, real eyeshadow. I remember feeling it on my skin for the first time and feeling like I was putting goop on my face. Was I like Julie? Did I want to turn myself into a movie star? Not really, but I hoped that I could copy my mother's makeup routine.
I understand that the message is about natural beauty and loving who you are. But... the book also sends another message inadvertently. It says "don't go too extreme with self-expression and makeup or else everyone will be stunned and you don't want that, right?" Sure you can be an individual, just not too too much of an individual. I know that wasn't exactly what the book was trying to get at, but it also does seem to poke fun at those who do get creative with makeup as if they are doing something wrong.
Although this was a favourite as a child, I don't think I will be reading it to my future kids.
When I was seven years old, I was gifted a Cover Girl cosmetics set. Sure, I had children's makeup with children's lip balm and faint eyeshadow. But this stuff was the real deal. Real mascara, real eyeliner, real eyeshadow. I remember feeling it on my skin for the first time and feeling like I was putting goop on my face. Was I like Julie? Did I want to turn myself into a movie star? Not really, but I hoped that I could copy my mother's makeup routine.
I understand that the message is about natural beauty and loving who you are. But... the book also sends another message inadvertently. It says "don't go too extreme with self-expression and makeup or else everyone will be stunned and you don't want that, right?" Sure you can be an individual, just not too too much of an individual. I know that wasn't exactly what the book was trying to get at, but it also does seem to poke fun at those who do get creative with makeup as if they are doing something wrong.
Although this was a favourite as a child, I don't think I will be reading it to my future kids.
December 9, 2014
Make-up Mess By Robert Munsch
Julie saved a 100 dollars with that money she will buy make up. At the store Julie went crazy and bought a box of makeup from lipstick, to nail polish, to hairbands and brought it all home. She went to her room and started to paint her face with all the make-up she bought. She turn herself in to a clown thinking she was beautiful. People were acting strange when they saw her. She than washed everything off and tried again, still people freaked out, so she washed her face again. She gave up thinking she will never be beautiful, but that was when everyone told her she was beautiful without makeup. So she went back to her room took all the make-up and sold all her makeup for $300.
I would use this book more for the health class for girls and show them that natural beauty is better and how magazines and TV are not the true and highly made up.
its a good book and it is the lesson i was taught from my father many times when i was growing up.
Munsch, R., & Martchenko, M. (2001). Makeup mess. New York: Scholastic.
Julie saved a 100 dollars with that money she will buy make up. At the store Julie went crazy and bought a box of makeup from lipstick, to nail polish, to hairbands and brought it all home. She went to her room and started to paint her face with all the make-up she bought. She turn herself in to a clown thinking she was beautiful. People were acting strange when they saw her. She than washed everything off and tried again, still people freaked out, so she washed her face again. She gave up thinking she will never be beautiful, but that was when everyone told her she was beautiful without makeup. So she went back to her room took all the make-up and sold all her makeup for $300.
I would use this book more for the health class for girls and show them that natural beauty is better and how magazines and TV are not the true and highly made up.
its a good book and it is the lesson i was taught from my father many times when i was growing up.
Munsch, R., & Martchenko, M. (2001). Makeup mess. New York: Scholastic.
December 4, 2013
Makeup Mess by Robert N. Munsch. This story is about Julie. Julie saved up money to buy makeup, she saved up $100. She wants to buy one of everything from the grocery store. She uses bright colors all over her face and puts lots of earrings on her ears. After a negative reaction from her parents, she redoes all of her makeup. This time, she has lots of colors and puts two rings in her nose. Her mother, father, and the mailman all fall over. She takes everything off. When she goes downstairs with no makeup, everyone says she is very beautiful! This can be used in the classroom to show that inside beauty is what counts and that there is such a thing as too much. This story contradicts itself a little bit because she bought the make up in the first place. So her parents let her spend all that money on the makeup and then they end up telling her she looks better without it. Yes it is a good learning experience that she learned on her own but it also was a waste.
December 26, 2018
Makeup Mess is about Julie and how she learns to love herself for who she is. Kind of.
My daughter is fascinated with makeup, so she got a kick out of this book. There were some incidents where she took my makeup and decided to "make herself pretty" as she said. Julie bought all of the makeup and "made herself pretty," I wish I were able to buy all that makeup for $100!
Julie loves how she looks when she's finished with her makeup, but everyone around her acts strangely until she wipes it all off and tries again. That doesn't work either, but when she comes down with nothing on her face, that's when people tell her she is beautiful.
It makes sense, I tell my daughter she's beautiful without makeup, and she doesn't need it, but now I'm teaching her how to use it properly, it's fun to play with, that's for sure.
When Julie is older, I think makeup would be more fun, but in reality, you should love yourself no matter what.
My daughter is fascinated with makeup, so she got a kick out of this book. There were some incidents where she took my makeup and decided to "make herself pretty" as she said. Julie bought all of the makeup and "made herself pretty," I wish I were able to buy all that makeup for $100!
Julie loves how she looks when she's finished with her makeup, but everyone around her acts strangely until she wipes it all off and tries again. That doesn't work either, but when she comes down with nothing on her face, that's when people tell her she is beautiful.
It makes sense, I tell my daughter she's beautiful without makeup, and she doesn't need it, but now I'm teaching her how to use it properly, it's fun to play with, that's for sure.
When Julie is older, I think makeup would be more fun, but in reality, you should love yourself no matter what.
November 18, 2013
Julie saved up $100 to buy makeup. She wants to buy one of everything from the grocery store. She uses bright colors all over her face and puts lots of earrings on her ears. After a negative reaction from her parents, she redoes all of her makeup. This time, she has lots of colors and puts two rings in her nose. Her mother, father, and the mailman all fall over. She takes everything off. When she goes downstairs with no makeup, everyone says she is very beautiful!
This can be used in the classroom to show that inside beauty is what counts and that there is such a thing as too much.
This is a very good book for young girls who watch their mothers put on makeup and want to learn too. Although the lesson doesn't have to be about makeup, it will relate well to those little girls! I really like this book and the pictures throughout it are great!
This can be used in the classroom to show that inside beauty is what counts and that there is such a thing as too much.
This is a very good book for young girls who watch their mothers put on makeup and want to learn too. Although the lesson doesn't have to be about makeup, it will relate well to those little girls! I really like this book and the pictures throughout it are great!
September 8, 2015
This book is perfect for many reasons!
1. It shows kids to work and save money to get the things they want. Even though she took some money from her brothers, Julie ended up having $100 of her own money to spend on what she wanted.
2. This teaches kids, as well as parents, to express themselves. Julie switches her hairstyle and does her makeup in the way she wants it done, even if it was a bit "out of this world".
3. This shows kids, especially young girls, that they are beautiful without all the makeup. This is a great message because most girls feel that they need makeup, their hair done, and nice clothes and jewelry to be beautiful.
I would also like to add that the illustrations were wonderful as well.
1. It shows kids to work and save money to get the things they want. Even though she took some money from her brothers, Julie ended up having $100 of her own money to spend on what she wanted.
2. This teaches kids, as well as parents, to express themselves. Julie switches her hairstyle and does her makeup in the way she wants it done, even if it was a bit "out of this world".
3. This shows kids, especially young girls, that they are beautiful without all the makeup. This is a great message because most girls feel that they need makeup, their hair done, and nice clothes and jewelry to be beautiful.
I would also like to add that the illustrations were wonderful as well.
April 30, 2009
Julia saved up all of her money she got on her birthday and christmas and paper route. She robbed her little brother bank. she had 100 dollars all together. she ran to the drugstore to buy alot of makeup. she bought shampoo too. she wanted to make her self look beeeeautiful. She put on so much makeup that she scared her mom and dad. She learned that she was beeeeeautiful without makeup. so she sold her makeup to other people.
September 22, 2015
Makeup can be fun and make you look different, But I would teach my students that it does not make you a new person even though you may look different you are still the same person you was before you put on the makeup and it doesn't change a person's character.
February 18, 2016
Awesome message for young girls about natural beauty. I was definitely one of those girls that went through this stage. I was not allowed to wear makeup until I was 13 so when I finally was allowed I went crazy.
April 2, 2016
Makeup Mess is another self-explanatory book about a girl who loves to apply her own makeup. This does not turn out well, in any way. Makeup should not be around with this girl in sight! I loved reading this book when I was younger, and brings back memories.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews