Looking for a book that breaks the fourth wall? A Perfectly Messed-Up Story (from McDonnell, the same guy who created the Mutts comic strip) turns typical storytime upside down. Louie—a wide-eyed critter who vaguely resembles a hairy teapot—freaks out when jelly stains and crayon doodles “ruin” his tale. The meta humor (“Who’s reading this BOOK?!”) works like a kid-friendly House of Leaves, minus the horror.

Unlike neat-and-tidy picture books like The Pigeon Needs a Bath!, this one celebrates chaos. Watch for recurring gags: A peanut butter sandwich stain grows bigger each chapter, and a grumpy fly buzzes through key scenes (try spotting it on the ice cream page!). Teachers could pair this with Beautiful Oops! for a lesson on embracing mistakes—though fair note: The ending feels a bit rushed compared to McDonnell’s Caldecott Honor winner Me… Jane.

Parents report kids love tracing the “messy” textures (glossy splotches contrast with matte pages). The 32-page length works for ages 4-7, though some wish the interactive elements were more involved like Press Here. Minor gripe: The font size changes abruptly in two spots, but maybe that’s part of the “messed-up” charm. Pro tip: Check under the book jacket for a surprise scribble battle between Louie and McDonnell’s signature Mutts characters!