Clutterbugs

By Maura Pierlot &  Maya Bora

Reviewed by Meg Rowe

In a world obsessed with acquiring more and more ‘stuff’ Clutterbugs message that less is best is a timely and important one. Maura Pierlot’s imaginative rhyming narrative, coupled with Maya Bora’s vibrant and energetic illustrations, explores themes surrounding recycling and upcycling, encouraging children to ignite their creativity through this process. Clutterbugs follows Pierlot’s picture book titles Alphabetter, What Will You Make Today, The Trouble in Toon Town and her award-winning young adult work, Fragments: Journey from Isolation to Connection.

When Steff can’t find the gift she’s bought for her friend’s birthday the problem of her messy room reaches crisis point. How will Steff and Pierre, her enthusiastic canine offsider, solve the problem of the missing gift? Cue the clutterbugs, an army of small magical de-cluttering experts that not only help Steff conquer her mess, they also help her realise that ‘…we want a lot but we need much less.’

The clutterbugs introduce Steff to the ‘keep’, ‘toss’, and ‘recycle’ method of de-cluttering, a practical and achievable process sure to help young children experience visible results. The story’s themes will spark conversations around living more mindfully, the benefits of clutter free spaces for our mental well-being, and the value of a thoughtful hand-made gift.  Clutterbugs’ emphasis on igniting creativity when up-cycling and re-purposing is engaging and fun and would pair well with titles with similar themes such as Ruby’s Repair Café by Michelle Worthington and Zoe Bennett.

Clutterbugs is an excellent choice to engage children aged 2 to 8 years in conversations about recycling, upcycling and creativity that have the potential to be expanded on to discuss wider environmental concerns around consumerism and sustainability in an age-appropriate way.

Look out for Pierlot’s young adult novel, The Lies We Tell Ourselves due for release on 1^st August 2025.

Big Ideas Press 2025

Maura Pierlot

Maya Bora