Plenty of Pockets

This ultimate messy-room story keeps kids chuckling.

Author: Ann Braybrooks Illustrator: Scott Menchin Pages: 34 Publisher: Harcourt Brace and Co. Published Date: 01/01/2000 Genre: Fiction - Picture Book HC Price: $7.15 Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: Ages 4-8 Read Aloud: 4+ Read Alone: 6+

Common Sense Note

Cartoon people and mixed-media collages hold viewer interest. Children turn the book to read meandering text. There are lots of interesting images to point at and talk about in this over-the-top tale.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Kevin McCaffrey

This is the ultimate messy-room story! One kid thought he could hide all his stuff in his own jeans and set out to prove it by pocketing everything but this book, which he read again.

Henry, it must be granted, has a novel idea about sewing pockets all over his and his wife's clothes. There's even a pocket to hold Junior, and Max, the pygmy hedgehog. The story's unexpected twist--a yard sale--gives a great suggestion for solving the clutter predicament.

The people and objects are cartoonlike. The collaged photographs spread throughout create eye-popping pages: What a surprise to find a real-looking baseball in a cartoon tree! The book design is inventive, with its shaped text and with oversized, fold-out pages highlighting the parent's fun-filled pockets. The endpapers, designed with sewing-machine stitches are a nice touch.

For another great big mess, read Mark Teague's Pigsty. Kids who want more on the subject can try All About Pockets. For more on clothing, try the Caldecott Medal winner Joseph Had a Little Overcoat.

From The Book

One day, Henry could not find a toothbrush. Or a comb. Or his overalls. Worse, Henrietta could not find Max, Junior, or Junior's birthday present (which she had hidden). "We need pockets," said Henry. "Do you mean closets, dear?" asked Henrietta. "No," replied Henry. "Pockets."

Plot Summary:

When Henry and Henrietta can't find Junior right there in the living room because there's too much clutter, something's got to give. Dad sews lots of pockets, and they put away their mess. Whoops! They lost the sofa, and must empty their pockets in the yard. This ultimate messy-room story keeps kids chuckling.

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