Book Details:
- Format: Paperback
- Publication Date: 2/1/2000
- Pages: 32
- Reading Level: Age 3 and Up
Book Description
Book Details:
Product Details
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More About the Author
Born in New York City, Rosemary Wells grew up in a house "filled with books, dogs, and nineteenth-century music." Her childhood years were spent between her parents' home near Red Bank, New Jersey, and her grandmother's rambling stucco house on the Jersey Shore. Most of her sentimental memories, both good and bad, stem from that place and time. Her mother was a dancer in the Russian Ballet, and her father a playwright and actor. Mrs. Wells says, "Both my parents flooded me with books and stories. My grandmother took me on special trips to the theater and museums in New York. "Rosemary Wells's career as an author and illustrator spans more than 30 years and 60 books. She has won numerous awards, and has given readers such unforgettable characters as Max and Ruby, Noisy Nora, and Yoko. She has also given Mother Goose new life in two enormous, definitive editions, published by Candlewick. Wells wrote and illustrated Unfortunately Harriet, her first book with Dial, in 1972. One year later she wrote the popular Noisy Nora. "The children and our home life have inspired, in part, many of my books. Our West Highland white terrier, Angus, had the shape and expressions to become Benjamin and Tulip, Timothy, and all the other animals I have made up for my stories." Her daughters Victoria and Beezoo were constant inspirations, especially for the now famous "Max" board book series. "Simple incidents from childhood are universal," Wells says. "The dynamics between older and younger siblings are common to all families."But not all of Wells' ideas come from within the family circle. Many times when speaking, Mrs. Wells is asked where her ideas come from. She usually answers, "It's a writer's job to have ideas." Sometimes an idea comes from something she reads or hears about, as in the case of her recent book, Mary on Horseback, a story based on the life of Mary Breckenridge, who founded the Frontier Nursing Service. Timothy Goes to School was based on an incident in which her daughter was teased for wearing the wrong clothes to a Christmas concert. Her dogs, west highland terriers, Lucy and Snowy, work their way into her drawings in expression and body position. She admits, "I put into my books all of the things I remember. I am an accomplished eavesdropper in restaurants, trains, and gatherings of any kind. These remembrances are jumbled up and changed because fiction is always more palatable than truth. Memories become more true as they are honed and whittled into characters and stories."
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
I happened upon "Bunny Cakes" by accident about a week ago. I picked it up and read it just to pass a few idle moments, but I ended up laughing out loud, and I've chuckled about it every day since. I was unfamiliar with Max and Ruby before I saw the book, but they have instantly become two of my favorite children's book characters (Max especially). "Bunny Cakes" accurately depicts the rivalry between a bossy (but patient) older sister, and a younger brother who's determined to make a statement in the world that he's just beginning to comprehend. Clad in a sharp pair of plaid overalls, Max makes repeated trips to the grocer (red wagon in tow) to make up for his unwitting disruptions of Ruby's cake-making project, and to get the perfect ingredients for his own earthworm cake: red-hot marshmallow squirters. Although even his most beautiful handwriting is incomprehensible to the rest of the world, Max relies on his ingenuity to finally succeed in communi! cating with the grocer. The illustrations are adorable--especially those that depict the wide-eyed innocence on Max's face as he wordlessly stares up at the grocer, hoping the man will understand his scribbled request for red-hot marshmallow squirters. But don't be fooled by Max's innocent look. He's one determined bunny. He gets what he needs and he makes sure Ruby doesn't steal the spotlight at grandma's birthday party.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By debrajrj
Format:Paperback
As a parent, this may very well be my favorite bedtime story. Don't judge the book based on the TV show-- it is much better! Max and Ruby are making birthday cakes for Grandma. Max is making an earthworm cake but Ruby wants to make an angel surprise cake with rasbery fluff frosting. Despite Ruby's increasingly restrictive instructions, Max keeps knocking her ingredients off the table, and Ruby keeps sending him to the store with a shopping list for replacements. Max wants red hot marshmellow squirters to top off his cake, and his attempts to communicate this to the grocer make up the heart of the story.
The illustrations are delightful and are cleverly incorporated as part of the story. My 3 year old loves this book, and believe it or not he gets tired of it before I do!
The illustrations are delightful and are cleverly incorporated as part of the story. My 3 year old loves this book, and believe it or not he gets tired of it before I do!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The charm of the Max and Ruby books owes much to the fact that many of us have had an older sibling or friend like Ruby---she knows more, is able to do more and wants to be in charge, but Max always finds a way to get what he wants! This book also explores the mystery of writing, and made my older son eager to learn to write---and I think writing is a topic less stressed in picture books than reading. Everyone should have a grandma like Max and Ruby, someone who will love both edible and inedible cakes equally! As always, Wells is wonderful!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Janet Alman
Format:Hardcover
We first borrowed Bunny Cakes from the library when my daughter was only 20 months old. She loved it so much that we ended up renewing it again and again. The library, eventually, asked that we return it for a while and we are now buying the book. So many of Rosemary Wells' books are great, but this one really stands out. I stopped counting the number of times in a row that my daughter would ask me to read it to her. She is still asking for it. I can't wait until it arrives!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By C. Cox
Format:Paperback
My children are Max and Ruby(practically) and this is our favorite. A friend's daughter even demanded a Max cake for her birthday complete with gummy worms. This is a favorite of my 3 &5 year old.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This book fascinates my 3-year-old, possibly because the actions of little brother Max are similar to hers! She is fascinated how the cakes are made. There even is an "icky" element to the story, which she delights in. Rosemary Wells continues to write in her captivating style and the illustrations are so enjoyable. As a parent, I enjoy reading this book over and over.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an excellent picture book for young children. The story line is simple and easy for kids to connect with. Many children have siblings and can relate to Max and Ruby. The illustrations are heart warming and draw the reader in. Rosemary Wells repitition of events within the plot make her an excellent storyteller. Bunny Cakes is an endearing story.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a nice little story that is popular with my three children ages 3,4,6. Any child who is a fan of Max and Ruby will like this story...........................
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Delicious Read!
Ruby and Max are a vaudeville act for the nursery school set...witty situations with aspects of physical comedy on the printed page. Read more
Published 4 months ago by GingerTeaBooks
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perseverance
Customer Video Review
Length:
1:36
Mins
Published 17 months ago by Annamarie Squailia
5.0 out of 5 stars
book
This is a fun book to read to the grandkids who are currently learning to read. They love Max and Ruby cartoons so naturally they love the book.
Published 21 months ago by Sharon K. Kirby
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funny Bunny
How great to have a really "funny" book for little listeners to enjoy. In fact, my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter has requested the story so many times that she now can "read" it... Read more
Published on January 12, 2011 by Macan
4.0 out of 5 stars
Red Hot Marshmallow Squirters
Yes, it's a cute story. Yes, there is a TV series, which makes my Book Snob heart wither a little.
BUT... Read more
BUT... Read more
Published on January 5, 2011 by The Mrs
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy to Memorize
My almost-three-year-old son asks for this book most nights. He now knows how to spell (and because of this, knows the letters that make them up) the words 'eggs, milk, & flour,'... Read more
Published on August 16, 2010 by Bernie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cute book
My son loves this book. He loves Max and Ruby on tv so I started buying him all of the rosemary wells books and they're a big hit. I highly recommend it.
Published on April 12, 2009 by Ruby Wells
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Learning Tool
We love Max and Ruby books. This one is particularly aimed toward teaching a few sight words to young children. Read more
Published on March 11, 2009 by Lisa Elaine
5.0 out of 5 stars
we love max and ruby
this is one of those books that my 2yo insists on me reading to her over and over and over... well, you get the picture! Read more
Published on September 20, 2008 by dr. mama
5.0 out of 5 stars
She loves it!
The true test of a childrens' book is how often it is chosen to be read. I've read this one almost every night for more than a month. Read more
Published on September 1, 2008 by Rebecca Hammann
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