The merits of a Messy Face

A mere glimpse at a small child whose face is covered with food can inspire uproars of laughter and delight, even from parents who are then in charge of cleaning up the mess. Yet, who knew that this sight can also educate infants and toddlers about various parts of the human face and its expressions, or the spectrum of color that food comes in?

This past July, not only did 28-year-old author and West Island native Elizabeth Caunter publish a delightful picture book aptly titled Messy Face for the purpose of entertaining and educating young children; she also proved to an increasingly corporate publishing community that with inexhaustible energy, one can experience remarkable success as a self-published author.

Within a month of its publication, Messy Face sold out at Chapters Pointe Claire, and can be purchased at Belles Mamans (also in Pointe Claire) and on Amazon.com.

A 2002 graduate of Concordia University’s creative writing program, Caunter believes that it is the simple joy of the book, the positive reaction young children have when they are interacting with it, that makes it easy for other families to welcome it into their homes. “It’s been incredible. To finally achieve something you’ve worked for for so long is both surreal and very gratifying,” Caunter said.

Her own daughter, Lily, now 2, can be credited as the tiny muse featured in the book sampling an eclectic range of messy foods, from breakfast oatmeal to peas. Her inquisitive face beams as she poses alongside her mother’s cheery and explanatory text. “I used to write only longer fiction, but after having Lily and staying at home I started getting all kinds of ideas for picture books. It’s so much fun to think of rhymes and stories and ideas to delight small children,” said Caunter.

She decided to take the road less travelled and went to non-traditional publishing. “I decided to do it that way after years of submitting other work to publishers and kind of knowing what a long, uphill battle it would be. I wanted to make Messy Face for my daughter to enjoy now,” said Caunter. “I was told right off the bat not to be disappointed if none of the books sold. I think it all depends on the quality of the book and the work the author’s willing to do to get it out there; with Messy Face it seems I’ve had the right combination of luck, perseverance, and appeal.”

Caunter also chose to align herself with a worthy organization called Project Cuddle, a crisis line that provides resources for mothers in need, seeking healthy alternatives to child abandonment in both Canada and the U.S. “It seemed like Messy Face, being for babies and about babies, was a perfect fit,” she said. She is aiming to give back 50 per cent of the proceeds of Messy Face to this charity.

Despite the breakthrough success of Messy Face, Caunter is busy writing her upcoming novel as well as raising her own "messy" toddler.