Clutterbugs

Clutterbugs (Big Ideas Press) Maura Pierlot & Maya Bora PB RRP $27.99 ISBN 9780645099829

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Maura Pierlot is an award-winning author, playwright, and filmmaker based in Canberra, Australia. Her creative work spans multiple genres and art forms, focusing on themes such as identity, mental health, ethics, and environmental sustainability.

Maya Bora is a Turkish illustrator and visual artist renowned for her vibrant and imaginative work in children's books, comics, editorial illustrations, and game design. She is the founder of Megami, a creative studio, and developed Okku, a mobile app dedicated to the creation and publishing of digital books.

In her wildly cluttered bedroom, Steff loses Jay’s birthday gift—until buzzing clutterbugs appear and help her turn mess into a thoughtful present.

Maura Pierlot writes rhyme in a fun and thoughtful way crafting a highly imaginative story, that helps young children understand the problems that clutter can create and how to deal with it. Her rhyming text is well written, and this is not easy to do. The opening sentence introduces the clutter problem immediately. Steff's room was quite messy, but she didn't mind. Whatever she needed, she managed to find. Her believable story world is filled with real life tips about clutter, repurposing and gifting. Even Steff’s dog, Pierre disappears in the mess. A boss clutterbug appears declaring, 'We love mess, said the bug, 'though it may sound absurd. 'We?' Steff repeated. 'You mean there are more?" Steff is faced with the unsettling idea that her belongings might be taken away.

Pierlot thoughtfully highlights that people value the freedom to choose what to keep and what to give away. Woven through the story is a gentle message about recycling and repurposing, emphasizing the responsibility that comes with decluttering. The narrative offers multiple meaningful layers, making it adaptable for exploration with readers of varying ages. The text has clever twists and the ending is surprising.

Maya Bora’s illustrative style is characterised by bold colours, whimsical characters, and a playful approach, making her work appealing to young readers. Her illustrations carry the themes of sustainability, creativity, and the joys of childhood imagination. Her delightfully eye-catching cover shows a pile of clutter, Steff, her dog Pierre and a cheeky clutterbug on top of Steff’s head. The characters and theme are introduced right away, with a playful energy shining through in vibrant colours and expressive illustrations.

As a reader, I could feel the overwhelming impact of the clutter—it's practically bursting off the pages. Bora’s visual storytelling unfolds across dynamic double-page spreads that beautifully complement and enhance the text. There is lots of movement and action. I love her depiction of the clutterbugs, they are cute and cheeky.  

Clutterbugs is a picture book with an important message, about the impact of clutter in lives and how to deal with it. This book is ideal for children aged 4 years and up, and its charm will resonate with parents and teachers as well. I can already imagine children excitedly talking about clutterbugs showing up in their own bedrooms. It’s both an engaging story and a valuable tool for sparking conversations about clutter, creativity, and responsibility.