Messy Bessey and the Birthday Overnight

Rookie Readers

by Patricia C. McKissack, Fredrick L. McKissack

Messy Bessey shows herself to be a true friend and a good guest when she helps to clean up after a messy birthday sleepover.

31 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 1998

About the author

Patricia C. McKissack was the Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Award-winning author of The Dark-Thirty and Porch Lies an ALA Notable Book. She collaborated with Jerry Pinkney on Goin' Someplace Special (Coretta Scott King Award winner) and Mirandy and Brother Wind (Coretta Scott King Award winner and Caldecott Honor Book).

Reviews

[Children's Literature Project · Rating 4 out of 5]

DRA:? Grades 1-3

Bessey is invited to her best friend's overnight birthday celebration. All the girls dressed in pajamas have fun singing, dancing, exchanging secrets and scary stories. The next morning all the friends including bessy say their good-byes and head back home. The birthday girl gets sad when she finds that she was left with a big mess to clean by herself. As a good friend, Bessy decides to return to the friend's house and help her clean up all the mess. Great to work on concepts of good friendship and responsability.

[Katey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deals with one of the hardest parts of parties, the clean up. Messy Bessy makes sure to stay and help clean up. What a great friend.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

33 months - an early reader book but also talks about helping cleanup and we sure could do with learning about that! LOL

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

a short story about taking care of things