Ever tried to convince your kids they needed to clean their rooms or something awful would happen? I’ve heard of everything from taking the offending toys and/or clothes and holding them for ransom (tried it myself–it didn’t work very well) to tossing the clothes onto the drive way so the kids would have to pick them up on their way in from the bus after school. I’m not sure that one worked for the frustrated mother, either.

Well, in Holly Remkes’ tale of The Gunny Sack Man, we learn about two little girls who are always making messes. When their mother gets totally frustrated about their inability to keep their room clean for five minutes, she tells them about a man who comes to kids houses to check and see if their rooms are clean. If it’s a mess, he’ll sneak in while they’re gone and eat all of the toys and clothes on the floor. If their room is clean, he’ll leave them each a treat or other present under their pillows.

When asked about her first book, Holly states her mother told her the story of The Gunny Sack Man when she was a little girl, and she has used it with her own children, finding it a great way to motivate them to take care of their own messes. The rhyming text perks the ear and cute storyline are bound to interest all of your little ones to take care of their things in record time.

You can learn more about the book and the author, or order a copy of your own at Holly’s Web site. The Gunny Sack Man is a 64 page, full color picture book. ISBN #978-0-9776332-9-6, it was published by Read It Again Publishing.