Bravo, Maurice! [Hardcover]

Rebecca Bond (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Since he was a baby, all the members of Maurice's family think he will take up their careers, until one day they discover he has a special gift of his own.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

When Maurice Duncan Marcela is born, everyone in his family is eager to see what he will become. Secretly, they each believe and hope he will follow in their own footsteps. Papa sees Maurice as a baker, like him. Mama notes his watchful eyes and is convinced her son will be a writer, like her. Uncle Eddie is sure Maurice, with his tapping toes, will join him as a taxi driver. As the baby grows older, each of his relatives takes him into their worlds outside the apartment. And sure enough, he does love the smells and textures of the bakery, the activity of his mother's office, and the swirling streets from the window of his uncle's taxi. But the best feeling of all, every time, is listening to the sounds of the city. And one day, while Maurice is taking a bath, all those sounds take shape in a song that rises from his throat in a rich, clear voice that overflows into the kitchen where his family stops what they're doing and listens. And finally they know: Maurice has something all his own, too.

Rebecca Bond crafts a lovely, gentle story about the joys and surprises of finding out who you are. Maurice and his family, in the "hot, bustling city" with its many fantastic details, will reach out to readers, inviting a lingering visit and offering plenty to think about. (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

Bond (Just Like a Baby) returns to themes of home and hearth in this tale of intergenerational family love, individuality and the gifts that make each one of us unique. From the time Maurice is a newborn, all the Marcelas imagine he'll grow up to be just like them. Papa sees his large hands and predicts Maurice will be a baker just like him. Uncle Eddie notices that his toes "tap and twiddle just like mine," and thinks he'll be a taxi driver just like him. As Maurice grows, they all share their worlds with him, from bakery and taxicab to Mama's office and Grandmother's greenhouse. All the while, Maurice is developing a talent all his own, one that the whole family can appreciate ("Bravo, Maurice!" they cheer on a final spread). Bond's beautifully descriptive prose, from the "crisp clipping of pruning shears" in the greenhouse to the "rasping ring of a whisk circling the sides of a metal bowl" at the bakery, softens the edges of the big-city setting, as do her splendid acrylics. Brimming with cozy details, her scenes are decked in warm shades of orange, red and yellow judiciously balanced with blues and greens. Readers will wish that they, too, lived in a snug city apartment with the busy and affectionate Marcela family. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Megan Tingley; 1st edition (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316105457
• ISBN-13: 978-0316105453
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #667,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reader from Baltimore, October 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Bravo, Maurice! (Hardcover)

Bravo Maurice is as charming as Bond's last book, Just Like A Baby. The illustrations are similar and the story equally as sweet and touching. Bravo Maurice seems to be geared towards older children- the 7-8 age range, compared to her last book, which the younger kids liked. My family and I are fans of Rebecca Bond and look forward to her next book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!, January 28, 2006

By 

Happy in Ohio - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bravo, Maurice! (Hardcover)

My son absolutely loves this book! I bought it when he was 3 and he was completely captivated by the thorough descriptions. The adjectives in this book paint such a vivid picture in your mind! What a fantastic way to increase your child's vocabulary and develop their imagination.

My son is now 4 and frequently picks out this book to be read to him before he goes to bed. We are donating a copy of this book to his preschool as part of their "Birthday Books" program. I'm sure his classmates will all enjoy this during story time.

Enjoy!