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How Messy!
Dot and Duck are best friends, but Dot hates mess and Duck hates tidy. Duck leaves the bed unmade, the cupboards open and breakfast everywhere. How messy! In the morning, Duck makes Dot pancakes for breakfast, how kind! But Duck leaves a BIG mess! At the beach, Dot carefully lays out her towel and picnic... and Duck digs a big hole covering everything with sand! SO messy! Characterful watercolour illustrations bring this story to life, and big font makes the story easy for young readers. How Messy! is a simple yet hilarious story with a touching ending and an important message about accepting differences and learning to compromise. The Dot and Duck series is a collection of laugh-out-loud funny stories detailing the adventures of these two best friends. More titles include How Rude! and How Selfish!
32 pages, Hardcover
Published May 3, 2022
2 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 4, 2022
The illustrations and the presentation of this cute picture book reminds me so much of Calvin and Hobbes. Dot and Duck are besties too!
This book will encourage the kids to tidy up and not make a mess.
I love how this concept is told with such a cute little story with a duck and a little kid.
Thank you, Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books, for the advance review copy.
This book will encourage the kids to tidy up and not make a mess.
I love how this concept is told with such a cute little story with a duck and a little kid.
Thank you, Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books, for the advance review copy.
April 23, 2025
I found it profound with good art.
April 13, 2024
»»» A compra:
Apareceu nas listas de umas promoções da Fnac online e eu tenho o ilustrador nas minhas preferências, por isso, bom preço e bom ilustrador só podem dar em compra.
»»» A aventura:
Dot vive com Duck e um dia acorda e repara que por todos os lados em que Duck passa tudo fica numa confusão. Duck é um desarrumado e isso está a deixar Dot aborrecida porque ela gosta de organização.
Vai ser na praia que os dois vão ter que encontrar um meio termo e colaborar para ter um excelente dia de praia.
»»» Sentimento final:
Leve e engraçado.
É muito giro ver como certas desarrumações do Duck podemos todos facilmente ter e a ilustração mostra bem como faz diferença em cada situação quando tudo fica desarrumado.
Boa mensagem, tanto da arrumação como da amizade.
Uma boa surpresa.
»»» Nota final (capa e outras considerações):
--- [Capa] – Não posso dizer que a capa me tenha cativado e acho que há melhores imagens no livro para criar uma capa mais apelativa, mas eu sabia que gostava deste ilustrador e por isso veio para casa, de outra forma dificilmente seria uma compra da minha parte.
--- [Ilustrações] – Fofas e bem conseguidas, mostram porque gosto deste ilustrador e são o que faz o livro ficar na memória.
»»» Uma espreitadela:
Apareceu nas listas de umas promoções da Fnac online e eu tenho o ilustrador nas minhas preferências, por isso, bom preço e bom ilustrador só podem dar em compra.
»»» A aventura:
Dot vive com Duck e um dia acorda e repara que por todos os lados em que Duck passa tudo fica numa confusão. Duck é um desarrumado e isso está a deixar Dot aborrecida porque ela gosta de organização.
Vai ser na praia que os dois vão ter que encontrar um meio termo e colaborar para ter um excelente dia de praia.
»»» Sentimento final:
Leve e engraçado.
É muito giro ver como certas desarrumações do Duck podemos todos facilmente ter e a ilustração mostra bem como faz diferença em cada situação quando tudo fica desarrumado.
Boa mensagem, tanto da arrumação como da amizade.
Uma boa surpresa.
»»» Nota final (capa e outras considerações):
--- [Capa] – Não posso dizer que a capa me tenha cativado e acho que há melhores imagens no livro para criar uma capa mais apelativa, mas eu sabia que gostava deste ilustrador e por isso veio para casa, de outra forma dificilmente seria uma compra da minha parte.
--- [Ilustrações] – Fofas e bem conseguidas, mostram porque gosto deste ilustrador e são o que faz o livro ficar na memória.
»»» Uma espreitadela:
May 19, 2022
How Messy is a cute picture book about a little girl and her friend, a duck. Dot likes things neat and tidy and Duck likes things messy. The story follows their day together as Duck creates more and more mess and Dot reminds duck "a place for everything, everything in it's place". It also reminds readers that there is a time for messy and a time for neatness and that we can find a balance because something making a mess is fun, but cleaning it up is important too!
The illustrations are beautiful and the background is plain white. The black font is fairly large and accessible, with short sentences, usually 1-2 per page. There are also some wordless pages where the illustrations continue to tell the story. There are also lots of expressive text features like onomatopoeias such as "slip", "smash" or "splash". This book would be great for shared reading with young children or independent reading for young readers who are ready to start trying short picture books on their own. I would recommend this book for children in the age 3-6 range. Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this sweet book!
The illustrations are beautiful and the background is plain white. The black font is fairly large and accessible, with short sentences, usually 1-2 per page. There are also some wordless pages where the illustrations continue to tell the story. There are also lots of expressive text features like onomatopoeias such as "slip", "smash" or "splash". This book would be great for shared reading with young children or independent reading for young readers who are ready to start trying short picture books on their own. I would recommend this book for children in the age 3-6 range. Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this sweet book!
May 15, 2022
Thank you so much to Quarto/Frances Lincoln & Happy Yak and Netgalley for the Ebook to read and review.
This caught my eye as it seemed so different from the cover and the description sounded so cute and funny. Dot likes clean, duck likes messy they don’t like each other’s way at all.
This was really cute, I loved the water colour illustrations they were so beautiful. I liked how the characters worked off of each other so perfectly as they were the complete opposites. I also really enjoyed they found a middle ground eventually.
This book is really easy to read a perfect early reader book, it’s beautiful to look at the story is short but fun and it will make children laugh. It will also help teach them that sometimes neat is best and sometimes messy is okay, and sometimes both work well together.
This caught my eye as it seemed so different from the cover and the description sounded so cute and funny. Dot likes clean, duck likes messy they don’t like each other’s way at all.
This was really cute, I loved the water colour illustrations they were so beautiful. I liked how the characters worked off of each other so perfectly as they were the complete opposites. I also really enjoyed they found a middle ground eventually.
This book is really easy to read a perfect early reader book, it’s beautiful to look at the story is short but fun and it will make children laugh. It will also help teach them that sometimes neat is best and sometimes messy is okay, and sometimes both work well together.
July 15, 2022
Dot and Duck are best friends. There is actually several books about these two that all look so cute. Dot likes things to be neat (not like any kids I know) but Duck is a whirlwind and leaves everything in a mess. The story follows them throughout their day as Duck makes more and more messes, and Dot has to remind him that everything has its place. It is tough for these opposites to deal with this until they find middle ground. The lesson here is that it is okay to be messy, but it is also important to clean up as well. This is really important for my youngest grandchild as he starts school soon and needs to be able to clean up after himself. The illustrations were so cute. I loved the expressions on Dot when she would see Duck's messes. I wonder if I look like that? 😂 Overall, this is a cute children's book with a great message that is fun to read together.
April 25, 2022
A new edition to the Dot and Duck series on learning to celebrate differences. This is a great social-emotional read aloud with humor and a heartwarming message for 3-5 year olds. Children will be able to see themselves in this book and know the feeling of trying to live with or play with someone who operates completely differently than you are. Dot and Duck learn that neither one of their ways is best (Dot is more neat and tidy while Duck is more carefree and messy). They find a way to create something together while playing at the beach, each one contributing something they do best. I appreciate the message but also the humor and the way the text really draws you in to the narrative.
***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via Quarto Kids. Opinions are my own.
***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via Quarto Kids. Opinions are my own.
May 4, 2022
Dot is tidy, Duck is chaos. Can these unlikely friends get along? This fun, funny story offers a valuable lesson about meeting in the middle and appreciating people for their strengths.
Kids will love the humor, and the simple text and repeated refrain of "How messy!" make this a good introductory book for newly independent readers. There are lots of colorful adjectives and expressive interjections to help build vocabulary. The watercolor-style illustrations are lively and complement the story well. This would be a great circle time read for pre-K and a wonderful addition to school and classroom libraries.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
Kids will love the humor, and the simple text and repeated refrain of "How messy!" make this a good introductory book for newly independent readers. There are lots of colorful adjectives and expressive interjections to help build vocabulary. The watercolor-style illustrations are lively and complement the story well. This would be a great circle time read for pre-K and a wonderful addition to school and classroom libraries.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
May 10, 2022
Lively, cartoonish read, about a young girl who is a stickler for precision and tidiness, and who finds living with her duck (don't dare ask) a nightmare due to the mess he permanently leaves behind. Can the two possibly find a happy balance? Of course they can; in the meantime this is amusing enough, visually energetic, and not too bad a look at compromises and acceptance of others. And rest assured, the book won't lead to too much damaging copycat behaviour should people decide to do as the duck does – but co-habiting with a duck might need discouraging.
May 14, 2022
A place for everything and everything in its place!
A quaint little book about how some people like things neat, while others prefer them messy. What a wonderful book for young beginning readers. The illustrations are simply adorable and very fun loving.
If your children like Sasha and the Bear, they are sure to love this short tale.
Grateful to have received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley & Quarto Publishing Group.
A quaint little book about how some people like things neat, while others prefer them messy. What a wonderful book for young beginning readers. The illustrations are simply adorable and very fun loving.
If your children like Sasha and the Bear, they are sure to love this short tale.
Grateful to have received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley & Quarto Publishing Group.
June 2, 2022
I received an electronic ARC from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books through NetGalley.
Duck and Dot are friends who share a home. Dot is neat; Duck is more messy. Readers see how frustrated Dot gets with the messes. Welsh offers enough humor to balance the point of finding compromises and ways to get along.
Terrific for younger readers and families to talk about cleaning up and still appreciating creative uses of materials.
Duck and Dot are friends who share a home. Dot is neat; Duck is more messy. Readers see how frustrated Dot gets with the messes. Welsh offers enough humor to balance the point of finding compromises and ways to get along.
Terrific for younger readers and families to talk about cleaning up and still appreciating creative uses of materials.
June 21, 2022
This is a cute story about Dot and Duck who love each other and are best friends, but they sometimes find it hard to get on since Dot doesn't like mess and Duck doesn't like things to be tidy. They do things in the story to annoy each other. Will they be able to find something to unite them again?
My daughter and I enjoyed this book, with its lovely watercolour illustrations, and easy to read text.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
My daughter and I enjoyed this book, with its lovely watercolour illustrations, and easy to read text.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
June 6, 2022
Reality is a funny thing, we see what we are looking for. Dot loves things neat, but sees everything around Duck as a mess. But "What's wrong with a little mess?" wonders Duck.
They can't settle it over breakfast, so they go to the beach. After another disagreement (all friends disagree sometimes), each creates a work of art. But an accident gives the friends a new perspective, and they decide to create a masterpiece together...
Then the ocean reminds them where they are, and why they are friends!
A delightful story of very few words, illustrated with humor (and exaggeration), that will bring a smile to readers time after time. This is a wonderful children's book, and would make a fun gift for a friend of any age!
5/5 Stars
Thanks to Quarto Publishing and Happy Yak, and NetGalley for the ebook pdf; the review is voluntary.
#HowMessy #NetGalley
#ChildrensHumor #ClareHelenWelsh
#OliverTallec #DotandDuckBook3
#FictionChildrenFriendship
#FictionChildrenFriendshipAnimals
#FictionChildrenFriendshipDuck
#ChildrensDuckBooks
#ChildrensMannersBooks
They can't settle it over breakfast, so they go to the beach. After another disagreement (all friends disagree sometimes), each creates a work of art. But an accident gives the friends a new perspective, and they decide to create a masterpiece together...
Then the ocean reminds them where they are, and why they are friends!
A delightful story of very few words, illustrated with humor (and exaggeration), that will bring a smile to readers time after time. This is a wonderful children's book, and would make a fun gift for a friend of any age!
5/5 Stars
Thanks to Quarto Publishing and Happy Yak, and NetGalley for the ebook pdf; the review is voluntary.
#HowMessy #NetGalley
#ChildrensHumor #ClareHelenWelsh
#OliverTallec #DotandDuckBook3
#FictionChildrenFriendship
#FictionChildrenFriendshipAnimals
#FictionChildrenFriendshipDuck
#ChildrensDuckBooks
#ChildrensMannersBooks
June 1, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Happy Yak for a free digital copy.
When a clean freak and a walking mess make a compromise in view points. I thought it was fun, but the message wasn't as clear as I would have liked.
When a clean freak and a walking mess make a compromise in view points. I thought it was fun, but the message wasn't as clear as I would have liked.
December 13, 2022
A funny read about dot who hates the mess duck made. A reminder for the kids what their mess can do to others. But also about accepting others as they are. How messy is really hilarious, and reminded me on why I should keep it tidy.
February 18, 2023
Delightful story of two friends and the struggle of tidy verses messy. Tidy versus messy is well illustrated from morning time and through an afternoon at the beach. Will there be a compromise?
Text is very short sentences and single words!
Fun title for the topic.
Text is very short sentences and single words!
Fun title for the topic.
September 14, 2024
Dot and Duck are best friends, but Dot has a hard time with how messy Duck is. The solution is to go to the beach! ... or is it? Simple words with funny pictures, great for young children.
May 10, 2025
Storytime: Beach
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews