Discover the Magic of Messes with Bee Johnson and What Can a Mess Make?
Bee Johnson has a knack for capturing the messy, magical moments of childhood in her work as an author and illustrator. Her book, What Can a Mess Make?, is a delightful celebration of creativity, curiosity, and the unexpected beauty in chaos—a story I instantly fell in love with. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to sit down with Bee and dive into her inspirations, her creative process, and the heart behind her incredible work. Our conversation was as warm and vibrant as her illustrations, and I can’t wait to share it with you!
Bee Johnson- author and illustrator of What Can a Mess Make?
You said you were inspired by this book during COVID lockdown and watching your own daughters make a world out of messes. Are any of the messes we see actual moments from that time?
Definitely! I think I’ve cleaned up most of the messes in this book—except for those feathers at the end, thankfully. My girls didn’t have the luxury of a house or backyard during lockdown, but aside from that, MESS really is a time capsule for our family. All of the little objects scattered across the pages are my daughters’ toys and trinkets. Their drawings are worked into the case cover. There’s a sweet significance to these things, and I didn’t want to forget them.
Your illustrations are so colorful and textured. How do you decide on the palette and style for each of your projects?
Childrens’ messes are anything but minimal, so I just dove headfirst into detail, indulging every impulse to use pattern and texture and wobbly lines. For color, I tried to find the sweet spot between cozy and playful. I found jewel tones with pops of a fiery red to be perfect for that.
In What Can a Mess Make?, there’s a sense of freedom in making a mess. How do you see this story encouraging young readers to embrace imperfection and experimentation?
I don’t think most kids need a reminder to embrace messy or experimental play. In fact, if there’s a lesson in this book, it’s more for the grown-ups. I just want young readers to see themselves and their play in this book. It’s a celebration of the weird and wonderful ways kids go about their business, and that’s usually going to involve a mess or two.
What message do you hope parents or educators will take away from What Can a Mess Make? when sharing it with children?
As the official Cleaner-Uppers, it’s tempting to try and minimize mess-making, but kids really need the time and space to play without worrying about getting in trouble for making a mess.
When I stop and ask my daughter why there are gems stuffed in her sneakers or how the umbrella got into the dog food bag, there’s usually a pretty good story behind it. Seeing the mess in context makes it feel like the mark of a good day instead of another tedious to-do.
Can you share a bit about your creative process? Do you start with a story idea first, or do illustrations sometimes inspire the direction of your stories?
I begin with a topic I feel connected to (in this case, kids’ messes) and then make a list of every example I can think of. From there, I use an approach similar to songwriting, tinkering with phrases that fit together and finding a lyrical hook for the book. Once the manuscript is ready, I dig into the artwork, which is basically a second layer of storytelling. The sisters, the old house filled with eccentric objects, the timeline from breakfast to bedtime—all of these visual choices bring a narrative dimension to the text, and eventually the two dance together on the page.
In What Can a Mess Make?, you celebrate the beauty of creativity without constraints. How do you balance fun and intentionality in your storytelling, especially when conveying positive messages to young readers?
I have a genuine affection for children and the way they do things, and I think that comes through in the book. Every page is a validation of their play, so there’s no need to spell it out with a preachy message.
What was your favorite part of creating this book? What did you find most challenging?
I loved working on the endpapers of this book. It’s such a fun opportunity to tell a little more of the story on either end of the text. I think creating recurring characters was the biggest challenge for me, especially coming from the world of editorial illustration, but once I found them, it was like they’d been around forever.
What future projects are on the horizon for you or would you like to make one day?
I’ve just finished my second picture book with Macmillan, While We Wait, which publishes at the end of 2025, and I’ve started working on my third title which should publish the following year. Making books is a dream come true for me, so I’m hoping to do it for as long as I can!
You can find copies of What Can a Mess Make? at your local bookshop or on one of these online retailers!