Parents' Guide to Llama Llama Mess, Mess, Mess

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Common Sense Media Review

Regan McMahon By Regan McMahon , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 3+

Llama gets a fun lesson in keeping things tidy at home.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 3+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

In LLAMA LLAMA MESS, MESS, MESS, it's cleaning day but Llama Llama just wants to keep playing. Mama wants him to make his bed and put his toys and books away. To get him to see why it's important to clean up she akss, "What if Mama never cleaned?/ Imagine that!/ What would that mean?" Then we see her take clean clothes out of the dryer and toss them in the air, stop doing laundry and leave dirty towels on the floor, leave pots and pans in the sink, and throw empty snack bags around the living room. It's so messy Llama Llama cant even see the floor. He gets her point and picks up his toys and blocks and puts them in the toy box, puts his books back on the shelf, and helps Mama make his bed. Now there's "Lots of space to play with Mama!"

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This lively lesson uses the extreme example of a mom who quits her cleaning duties to show her child what would happen if she let things stay messy. Llama Llama Mess, Mess, Mess uses the familiar rhythm and rhyme of the series, it's clever and silly as it imagines the resulting "clutter, chaos, and distress." It's cute and not too heavy-handed, showing kids the many benefits of tidying up -- including having more space to play.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the need to clean up as shown in Llama Llama Mess, Mess, Mess. Why is keeping things tidy imprtant? What would your house look like if your mom, dad, or caregiver never cleaned up?

  • Who's the messiest person in your home? Who's the tidiest?

  • What can you do to help keep your play area tidy?

Book Details

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