The Mess That We Made - by Michelle Lord (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The Mess That We Made explores the environmental impact of trash and plastic on the ocean and marine life, and it inspires kids to do their part to combat pollution. Simple, rhythmic wording builds to a crescendo ("This is the mess that we made. These are the fish that swim in the mess that we made.") and the vibrant digital artwork captures the disaster that is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Children can imagine themselves as one of the four multi-ethnic occupants of the little boat surrounded by swirling plastic in the middle of the ocean, witnessing the cycle of destruction and the harm it causes to plants, animals, and humans. The first half of the book portrays the growing magnitude of the issue, and the second half rallies children and adults to make the necessary changes to save our oceans, before it is too late. Facts about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, ocean pollution, and how kids can help are included in the back matter.

Review Quotes

"Our lives depend on the ocean. Fish consume our waste and then end up on our dinner plates. I hope that this beautifully illustrated book will serve as a tool to pass on the importance of the ocean to future generations and beyond."

--Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation and founder of Change for the Blue

"A beautifully illustrated book to show children, and remind adults, about the impact trash can have in the ocean. It then shows the positive change that can happen when we all work together to clean up our mess."

--Christina Dankert, 2nd grade teacher and picture book author

"Cumulative text and layered artwork turn a complex crisis into something children can see, trace, and understand. Few works explain environmental responsibility with clear accessibility and empowering impact."

--Jackie Garcia-Morales and Theresa Maria Villarreal, Directors of the Big Bang Notable Book List 2025

"Great book! Inspires a love for stewardship of the ocean in today's youth so that the next generation will not repeat The Mess That We Made. There is always hope in the next generation, a hope that they will create a healthier, more sustainable ocean."

--Anthony Saner, Director of ReefCI (Reef Conservation International)

"I adore this book.... The craft of the script and the illustrations work together perfectly.... It's funny and relatable for both parents children.... We have read this hundreds of times and it never gets old!"

--Melissa Robinson, author

"Kathryn Hahn's heartfelt and engaging reading of The Mess That We Made .... not only brings this powerful story and its characters to life, but it illuminates the consequences of neglecting our planet. We are proud to release a read-aloud that promotes literacy, and underscores the importance of environmental stewardship."

--Courtney B. Vance, SAG-AFTRA Foundation President

"This is an excellent book for classroom use, especially when discussing environmental awareness, conservation, and responsibility. The structure makes it fun to read out loud, and the artwork is outstanding."

-- "Children's Bookshelf"

"This outstanding story superbly visualizes pollution problems with art that hits the spot....It is sure to inspire our young conservationists-in the-making to work toward a sustainable ocean environment."

--Briggette Dusart "Cleaner Ocean Foundation"

"What I love so much about this book is that I love how they capture the ocean, the colors, the magic of being close to the ocean, and that it also tells you how serious it is that our ocean is hurting."

--Kathryn Hahn, Actress and comedian (WandaVision, Parks and Recreation)

In a world full of beauty and such promise, Lord sends a gentle message to a young audience about the damage taking place in the ocean - caused when trash is dumped in the waters by us humans. The Mess That We Made is an educational children's book. The first half of the book explores what happens to marine life when the waters are polluted and the devastating ripple effect it causes in the world. But the second half of the book shows how meaningful changes can still save the day and how we can all do our part to create a clean and healthy place for everyone. This message will not scare children as the author chooses her words wisely and creates a rhythmic and fun pace. And the colorful images will captivate readers with the turn of every page. The bright and tasteful artwork will educate little ones (and big ones too) and inspire young minds so that when they grow up they can help lead the way to protect and preserve our waters. It is a brilliant way to help start a conversation about ocean pollution and encourage such needed change in the world. This book deserves a spot on every library, classroom, and home shelf. It teaches children important facts about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and about calls to action. It will hopefully shape the minds of our future leaders. If you are considering a new book for your children or your classroom in the new year, please consider getting a copy of this powerful picture book.

--From Edwards Book Club, Christa McGrath

In an informational picture book about oceanic pollution, Lord and Blattman present a clear and realistic message to young readers in a surprisingly enjoyable package. The rhyming text is in the style of "The House That Jack Built," with each of the stanzas ending with "the mess that we made." This phrase refers to enormous garbage patches made up largely of plastics and caused entirely by human beings. The "we" in the text is important, as Lord does not shy away from our collective responsibility to the earth's oceans and its animals. However, she ends on an uplifting note. Comprehensive back matter elaborates on each of the repeated phrases, describing how each animal is affected by pollution, why plastics are particularly problematic, and ways that children can make a difference. This includes individual acts such as using reusable bags, but also collective actions toward systemic change. Blattman's digital illustrations bring beauty and brightness to an otherwise heavy topic, without making light of the severity of the situation. The pieces of plastic look like neon-colored confetti, clearly standing out against the swirling natural blues and greens of the sea. Through vibrant and immersive underwater views, readers can see a boat full of children observing the scenes below and, finally, working to clean up the waters. VERDICT A successful addition in a growing genre of engaging picture books about pollution and environmentalism. Use to support an elementary science curriculum or pair with a book like Andrea Tsurumi's Crab Cake for a read-aloud.

--From School Library Journal, Clara Hendricks

Riffing on "The House That Jack Built," Lord crescendos cause and effect to show how human actions harm the ocean: "We are the people at work and at play/ that stuff the landfill, growing each day/ that spills the plastic thrown away, / that traps the turtle, green and gray." Blattman's colorful, detailed illustrations show children peering into a swirling oceanic soup of plastic fragments where ghost nets and plastic bags entangle seals, whales, and turtles. Midway through, the narrative pivots: "BUT... we are the ones who can save the day." Lord lists positive actions, using the same rhythms to build to a triumphant conclusion: "We protest the boat of welded steel, / collect the nets/ and free the seal, that eats the fish.../ that swims in the ocean that WE save!" Though the illustrations move quickly from cataclysm to all-cleaned-up, many are realistically chilling. Substantial supplemental information explains landfills and oceanic pollution and suggests more ways to help.

--From Publishers Weekly

The cadences of a familiar nursery rhyme introduce concerns about ocean garbage and what we, who made the mess, can do to help clean it up. With the rhyme and meter of "The House That Jack Built," Lord builds the problem of plastic waste in the oceans from the fish that must swim through it to a netted seal, a trapped turtle, and overflowing landfills before turning to remedies: cleaning beaches and bays, reducing waste, and protesting the use of fishing nets. Two pages of backmatter describe problems in more detail, while a third elaborates potential solutions; suggestions for individual action are provided as well. Blattman's images begin with a racially diverse group of youngsters in a small boat in the center of a plastic trash gyre. The children, shown at different angles, bob spread by spread over trash-filled waters. To accompany the words, "Look at the mess that we made," she adds a polluted city skyline and a container ship belching smoke to the scene. Finally, the dismayed young boaters reach a beach where a clean-up is in process. From their little skiff they help scoop up trash, rescue the turtle, and wave protest signs.

--From Kirkus

With lyrical and somber words from Michelle Lord paired with lush and vivid illustrations by Julia Blattman, who's animated for Paramount, Disney, and Dreamworks TV, The Mess That We Made is a timely and all-too-important book that every kid should be reading right now. Somehow Blattman manages to make trash beautiful while highlighting the enormity of the plastic catastrophe humans have created. The story ends on a hopeful note though and I think that makes all the difference.

--From IPG's Fall 2019 Staff Picks, Lauren Klouda, Director of Marketing

About the Author

Michelle Lord has written several books for children, including A Song For Cambodia, Nature Recycles, and Animal School: What Class Are You?, which received a starred review from Kirkus.

Julia Blattman has worked as a visual development artist for animated feature films and Disney mobile games. This is her first picture book.