The Big Tidy-Up

I'm now 37 yrs old and this was my all-time favorite book as a child. My mom still has our well worn copy of The Big Tidy Up and reads it to children when she substitute teaches. She tells all the kids that it's a story about her daughter Jenny. I had a pink room, which was always a huge mess. I had the dark hair with bangs like the girl in the book and a big fat cat. I also would at times put a sign on my door telling everyone to "keep out". It would be so wonderful if this book was in print again and I'm sure another generation of girls would love it like so many of us did.

I never knew that this book would be the favorite of so many people...........Norah was my next-door neighbor when I was a little girl and wrote this book about me! The book is completely true - me with black hair, persian cat, pink room, reading with flashlight with hidden snacks under the covers, and exasperated mother. My family still calls me "Messy Jenny". I have improved a little through the years but still have maintained the habit of periodic "big tidy-ups" when things get out of control.

This was my daughter, Chelene's, favorite book (she is now 31). She could recite it by heart by the time she was 2 years old. A few years ago I used this book as my oral presentation in an Early Childhood Literature class with a flannel board and everyone loved it! My daughter will still look at a messy room and say, "Jennifer knew as well as you, that everything had it's place..." I was hoping to find a fresh new copy, ours is very loved (and worn out!). Let's get Golden to reissue! A new generation of messy kids are missing out!! ...

I still have this book from when I was a little girl. I found it in my parent's attic and read it to my 5 year old for the first time a few months ago. SHE LOVES IT! The big pink book is pretty beat up and only held together with packing tape. My daughter picks this book as her first choice almost every night. I wanted to find one in better condition for her to pass on to her children someday. She loves to compare the big picture of "messy Jennifer" at the beginning to the "neat Jennifer" at the end.

Of all of the books I read as a child, this one is my all time favorite. My mom, dad, sister and I still burst into "Jennifer knew as well as you..." all the time. A wonderful read. I hope one day to read it to my child. If only it were still in print!