Super-Completely and Totally the Messiest!

by Judith Viorst, Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator)

According to Olivia—who is practically perfect—her younger sister Sophie isn’t very neat. But she’s not just messy, either…. She’s Super-Completely and Totally the Messiest! Olivia’s family tries to show her that Sophie is plenty of things besides a slob, but Olivia is unconvinced. Pictures from Robin Preiss Glasser, illustrator of Fancy Nancy, make this book super-completely and totally fun!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Family, Art, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Judith Viorst is an American writer, newspaper journalist, and psychoanalysis researcher. She is known for her humorous observational poetry and for her children's literature. This includes The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (about the death of a pet) and the Alexander series of short picture books, which includes Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (1972), which has sold over two million copies.
Viorst is a 1952 graduate of the Newark College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. In 1968, she signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In the latter part of the 1970s, after two decades of writing for children and adults, Viorst turned to the study of Freudian psychology. In 1981, she became a research graduate at Washington Psychoanalytic Institute after six years of study.

Reviews

[Katherine Salinas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Though the illustrations were cute and fun to look at, I had a hard time liking this book. It was cute initially, but after a few pages I started to feel bad for Sophie. It kept saying things like, "Why can't you be cleaner/neater/tidier/better like your sister Olivia?" I think comparing kids is hard in every family and not healthy for any kid. Sadly, there wasn't even a redemptive ending! I was waiting for the end to celebrate Sophie's creative qualities or SOMETHING but it never came. Cute illustrations, but I wouldn't want to teach my kids to be like someone else (and I'm I neat freak!!).

[Fjóla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the pictures, hated the text! While I was super-completely excited to read this book to my son, a few pages in I totally started regretting it and for me it turned into a seriously tedious read-aloud. I wasn't sure why at first. True, I haven't read much by Judith Viorst, but we loved Alexander and used to quote him a lot actually when we were having those Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Days. But then it struck me that although this may work in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, the same stylistic ruse is here used to describe Sophie's (and at the same time Olivia's, in a way) antics, and it just gets very old, very quick. I totally bore with the repetition, the exaggerations and the monotonous, long winded, never ending whining of Alexander, because I thought it served the purpose of transporting us into his skin, into his head and helped us empathize with his plight. But here, whether it's because the culprit is not the one telling the story or not, this gets aggravating and it even occurred to me if the book could have just done without the text and been wordless, as the pictures tell most of the story anyway. And here's what I liked about the book: Robin Preiss Glasser's illustrations are fantastic. They're busy for sure (after all we're dealing with the super-completely and totally messiest sister on earth), but color is used for emphasis to draw out the plot essentials. I notice that the same technique has been applied in a 2009 version of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Incidentally, illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser created the pictures of the last one in the Alexander trilogy in the style of Ray Cruz.

So, unless you think you can handle the horrible, and much too wordy text, avoid this as a read aloud. This book could still work for kids doing their own reading however, while you read it silently you'll just tend to gloss over all the repetition, and that's fine I guess. The same applies to all the Fancy Nancy books, so charmingly illustrated by Glasser again, but so exasperating to read even if the stories aren't too bad.

Actually, never mind the text: the pictures alone make it worthwhile to pick up this book, so I'm rating it 3 stars. And if you like Robin Preiss Glasser as much as I do, you may also want to check out the Balloon series ...

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 STARS ILLUSTRATIONS
3 STARS STORY

I am a huge fan of Robin Preiss Glasser and I thought that her illustrations were absolutely fabulous in this story--full of charm and little details that were so warm and thoughtful and made me smile. Really added to the characterization.

The story itself left me a bit cold, despite the fact that I love Viorst's "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" and the sequel. Here she chronicles the frustrations of older sister Olivia who is neat-as-can be as she has to live with her little sister Sophie who is, as the title says, super-completely and totally the messiest! Cute idea, but my problem is that I'm not sure what sort of message we are going for here... I didn't really mind when Sophie simply had a messy room or liked painting her dolls funny colors; harmless and creative self-expressions, in my opinion. However, when she proceeds into public and wrecks seven sandcastles in a sandcastle competition or ruins a farmer's vegetable garden, for example, that seems to be a bit beyond the personal expression category and into the public menace category. The parents suggest that she tries to be a bit neater and more careful, but the picture of her in a brand-new car with food flying everywhere and a giant grin on her face would make one feel that she has not really taken the message to heart. It is made clear that Sophie is a very kind and intelligent individual, but then I'm not sure how she is so unaware. (I do wish to be sensitive to children who have challenges in social situations, etc., but nowhere is it apparent that Sophie has any sort of developmental or social challenges--rather that she just likes to be messy!) Perhaps this is just my own little pet peeve, but I feel that it is never too early for children to learn some personal responsibility and that their actions can have either positive or negative affects on others. Poor Sophie didn't seem to learn that there is a time and a place for being super-completely and totally the messiest.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia, the neat big sister, narrates the story of her little sister, Sophie, who is super-completely and totally the messiest! No matter what Sophie does, it turns into a mess. Her room is messy, her hair is messy, she is messy at school, at the beach, and on Halloween. What I did not like is that her parents told her she should be more like Olivia. This may be true, but comparing children like that is never good. I would have liked to have seen Sophie's messiness handled in another way. The illustrations were wonderful and captured both the messiness and the exuberance of this little girl whom you could not help but like no matter how many messes she created.

[Barbara Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at a yard sale thinking the "super completely and totally the messiest" character was Fancy Nancy, since I have a niece who loves that character. But I found out that Sophie and Olivia were the stars of this book.

My perception while reading most of this book, was that Olivia, the older sister, was putting her younger sister down. I could have allowed my own feelings to color my perception, but this is the reason I only gave the book 3 stars. I would have liked to have seen more emphasis on Sophie's good qualities, despite her messiness, earlier in the book.

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a verbose waste of time. I wish I had spent my time reading another book. It just isn't my style. The one redeeming quality, after harping page after page on the fact that the little girl is messy, is that members of her family point out her good qualities. It had too many repetitive adjectives and phrases for that tiny ray of light to be all of the pay off.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Olivia has a very, VERY messy little sister, Sophie. The book talks about how messy she is and how everyone around Sophie tries to convince her to be like the other members of the family who aren't as messy.

I didn't like the book.

[The Campbell Family · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the illustrations, did not love the text.

[Mallory Meilicke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the cover indicates the book is about the perspective of a messy little girl, it is actually told by her older sister who is the cleanest. It was unique to see the author draw out everything in pencil with no colors except for the older sister, Olivia, and the younger sister, Sophia. The narrator and main character are the only two in color throughout the book, making me as a reader feel more lead to only analyze what's in color.

[T Crockett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so much fun. The narrator is pitch perfect as an older sister. It's funny and heart warming too. It would be great to read to/with a child on your lap or beside you. It doesn't work as well with a larger group because the illustrations are rather small and full of detail. You need to be close up to appreciate them.

I saw this read to a class of 2nd graders and they loved it.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one of the worst read aloud books ever written. And while the pictures were great the message of the story was horrible. Be perfect like your sister is! What! Not be carful because it’s helpful or healthy or anything else, just do like your perfect sister does. This book is never coming home from the library with us again. The two stars are completely for the pictures.

[Emmy Menner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Sophie, the younger sister of Olivia, who makes a mess with everything that she does. Sophie's family does not like that she is messy, but they still love her for her other special and unique qualities. I think this book would be great to share with younger grades (Kindergarten - 3rd grade) since a lot of students could relate to this book...and being messy!

[Miikachu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up, my dad used to read this to me nearly every night. I related to this book SO much. One, my name is also Sophie, two, I am super-completely and totally the messiest! I loved this book so much, I used to say, "That's me!" whenever a picture of Sophie came up. This is an amazing book to read to young children, and I LOVED it.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I think Sophie really was the messiest person in the earth!

[Madison Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a big sister, Olivia, who is very neat and tidy who constantly tries to keep her sister, Sophie, from being super-completely and totally the messiest!

[des · Rating 5 out of 5]

me commenting on childhood faves again lol: IF ROBIN OR JUDITH'S NAMES WERE ON THE COVER, YOU BET I WAS THERE READING IT 😭🤧🫶 no, but seriously, this iconic duo made my childhood!

[Jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor little sister Sophie gets put down too much for my tastes. Any reading to a young child would have to deal with that.

[Skylar · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good book for text to self connections! Also was very funny and cute!! really liked it :)

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia's younger sister Sophie was not neat like her. In fact, Sophie was the messiest ever; even when she tried hard not to be messy things just happened. Funny story with beautiful illustrations.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Olivia and Sophie are sisters. Olivia is very bothered by how messy her younger sister Sophie is. This book is a great way to show exaggeration. I think that students can relate to this book by either being the clean and organized sibling or the messy carefree one. Olivia’s parents try to convince her that Sophie is much more than just messy.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

A cute book about having a very, very messy sister. The book isn't really a story with a traditional plot, more of a collection of anecdotes and observations about Sophie and her messiness. But it is still a nice, funny book with great illustrations.I work with a kid who loves commenting on pictures of messy things, so I think this will be a win for him.

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kalau mau tahu siapa yang paling berantakan, tanya deh sama Olivia. Dia pasti akan menjawab: Sophie. Kenapa? Karena Sophie adalah adik kecilnya yang paling berantakan. Kalau Olivia masuk ke kamar Sophie, sudah dapat dipastikan bahwa dia tidak akan mudah menemukan Sophie. Karena selain di lantai kamarnya yang berantakan, atas tempat tidur, dalam lemari, dan seluruh sudut kamarnya BERANTAKAN. Kadang Olivia beruntung bisa melihat kaki atau kepalanya Sophie yang menyembul.

Sophie tidak hanya membuat berantakan di kamarnya. Tapi juga seluruh rumah DAN di sekolah. Dan kalau kau pikir dia akan tetap rapi saat didandani baju bagus untuk ke pesta ulang tahun, kamu salah besar! Karena setibanya di pesta, Sophie pasti sudah berantakan.

Namun, ayah, ibu, bahkan Jake, mengingatkan Olivia bahwa ada kelebihan Sophie yang mungkin tidak dilihatnya karena yang menjadi fokus Olivia adalah betapa berantakannya Sophie.

Cerita anak ini mengisahkan tentang Sophie yang super messy, dituturkan oleh kakaknya Olivia yang kebalikan dari Sophie. Olivia rajin, dan sering dibandingkan dengan Sophie.

"Try to be more like me--Olivia," says Olivia.

"Try to hold the plates tight, like Olivia," Mum says.

Kalau saya jadi Sophie, saya bakal sengaja ngeberantakin. Siapa juga yang suka dibanding-bandingin, ya nggak?

Buku ini awalnya bagus, saya suka dan berpikir untuk membacakannya saat story telling. Tapi makin saya baca, kok saya malah bosan? Kenapa? Karena isinya pengulangan tentang kelakuan Sophie yang selalu berantakan, tentang bagaimana Sophie mau jadi anak rapi tapi selalu lupa, dan lainnya.

Seolah penulis ingin menuliskan semua ke-messy-an Sophie dalam satu buku, tapi jadinya kebanyakan dan nggak seru lagi. Tahu kan, sesuatu yang terlalu berlebihan tidak baik hasilnya. Kalau saja buku ini lebih pendek dan lebih straight forward tentang apa yang ingin disampaikan, mungkin akan lebih baik.

Ilustrasinya saya suka! Dan ternyata Robin Preiss Glasser adalah ilustrator buku-buku Fancy Nancy *kalau belum tau Fancy Nancy, coba search deh* No wonder ilustrasinya terasa familiar. Dan terlepas dari rasa bosan membaca ceritanya, saya sangat menikmati ilustrasi yang disuguhkan di dalam buku ini.

[Emmaline MacBeath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is told by Olivia about her sister Sophie who is super-completely and totally the messiest. Olivia gives many outlandish examples of ways and times when Sophie has been super messy including having a whistle, a ring and a piece of sandwich in her hair. But even with her messy ways, Sophie is kind, smart and extremely creative. She means well even though she drives her sister Olivia crazy.

The illustrations are colorful and fun.

As a super-completely messy creative person with frizzy and fuzzy hair, I can completely relate to Sophie and her ways. I can also feel for Olivia who is the opposite and needs order and cleanliness. Many people have felt insulted by Olivia's recitation of Sophie's messes in this book, but I feel instead that it is more of a celebration of who Sophie is as a creative person with a huge personality. We exuberant creative types can't quite help our messes and Olivia does show how Sophie tries hard to do what is right and organized.

My only negative is when the girls' parents ask why Sophie can't be more like Olivia on more than one occasion. This is bad any way you look at it and I wish Viorst had put a more positive slant from the parent's perspective.

Advertized for ages 4-7, however I think the maturity is better for grades k-2. A funny book.

[Taryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, I love the illustrator of this book: Robin Preiss Glasser, but I wasn't so impressed with the story. The writing (esp. word choice, tho not nec. age appropriate for a 4yo) was great, too, but...

Juni (4yo) and I felt that it went on too long with examples of how truly messy Sophie is. And it really bothered me that the whole family wanted Sophie to be like her big sister. We finished the book and I couldn't help myself, I taught a little lesson (I'd like to be more of a "show" instead of "tell" person). I said that I thought that instead of asking Sophie to be more like her big sister, I wish she had been encouraged to be herself, but to try and learn to be more tidy. So she would still be Sophie, but just not as messy. It's impossible to be another person anyway, and we should be encouraged to be ourselves, and loved as we are. There is one spread (two pages) about Sophie's good qualities, but probably 20-25 other spreads about Sophie's downfalls.

Hmm. I guess this hit a nerve.

[Gail LaVoie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just ok. I found that the pictures were too busy and there were too many words. It lost my attention by the third page and my daughter didn't even make it that far. The story is about a young girl whose younger sister is very messy. It describes just how messy she is and all the ways that she is messy. I felt as though the whole book was just saying how horrible this girl is, even though at the end the older sister describes her more endearing qualities. There is just not enough time spent showing that the girl is actually good, especially compared to how much time is spent describing all of her messes. All in all, this is not a book I will be keeping around for my daughter to read again later. I believe there are so many other wonderful books out there that this one will not be missed.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book to read to children. It's about an extremely messy girl named Sophie.

Our girls were glad that they aren't as messy as she is (as am I!) And I hope that one day they will aspire to be as neat as Sophie's older sister, Olivia.

The illustrations are great and our girls immediately recognized that Sophie looks an awful lot like Fancy Nancy, as the illustrator, Robin Preiss Glasser, is the same for both.

Her pen and ink and watercolor illustrations are wonderful.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another family style book similar to the Alexander books I enjoyed it quite a bit actually. As a messy person, I don't compare with Sophie, but I understand the idea that siblings can be almost entirely opposite of one another, and comparison between siblings is common. I also understand that comparisons like that often lead to later sibling quarrels as the unfavorably compared often harbors understandable resentment for the favorably compared.

[BlackhamBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

... cute story and illustrations. I read this to my six year old son, and I saw him looking it over again the next day (too many words for him to attempt to read himself though). Sometimes as I'm reading the bedtime story, I like the books with fewer words (this had a lot) but it was easy to read (very conversational).

[Hayli Wrigley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book because of the creativity the main character, Sophie, has. A lot of kids can relate to that character, too. I'm not a terribly huge fan of how the older sister is always trying to change Sophia to be like her. I think it is important for kids to know how to be the best they can be.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Robin Preiss Glasser's illustrations, and I'm a big fan of Judith Viorst's most famous book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which may be why I was disappointed with this book -- it just doesn't live up to Alexander. I probably would have liked Super-Completely and Totally the Messiest more if I hadn't been comparing it to Alexander.