Max, the Bad-talking Parrot: 2 (Unicorn Paperback) [Paperback]

Patricia Brennan Demuth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 3, 1990 | Series: Unicorn Paperback

A misunderstanding causes a rift in the friendship between Mrs. Goosebump and Max the parrot, until a burglary brings an unexpected solution.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Tillie's parrot Max speaks in rhymes. He is usually good-natured and courteous, but when he takes offense at Tillie's friend Mrs. Goosebump he begins insulting her in verse. This gets him in trouble with the two friends, but it also leads to his stopping a thief from robbing Tillie's apartment. The story's idea is cute and could provide a useful springboard for parents to discuss "bad" language with their children. But the book's execution is only fair. The rhymes are not especially clever and the text, though lively, rarely sparkles. Zaunders's expressive, quirky illustrations enhance the book, but the overall effect falls short of the mark.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2 Max the parrot talks in rhyme to Tillie, his owner, and their upstairs neighbor and friend, Mrs. Goosebump. Max is thought to be a considerate and clever bird until one day when he thinks he hears Mrs. Goosebump call him an "ugly bird." After this his rhymes become unmannerly and insulting. His rhyming ability does help rescue his and Tillie's belongings from a burglar, the misunderstanding is explained, and Max again becomes a clever, polite and "snugly" (not ugly) bird. The brief text flows along smoothly for reading aloud or for independent reading. Zaunder's watercolors on white backgrounds have the cartoon and lightly humorous quality of Quentin Blake's drawings. A successful if not outstanding picture book. Rita S. Padden, Lassen County Library, Susanville, Calif.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (May 3, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525445951
• ISBN-13: 978-0525445951
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,943,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Patricia Brennan Demuth: Children's Book Author
Patricia grew up in little Iowa town with a big family and imagination. After college, she moved to the Big Apple (New York, New York) where imaginations could feast. Patricia did her first book there with her husband, photographer Jack Demuth, on the life of a mounted police horse (CITY HORSE, Dodd, Mead). They shadowed 5-year-old Hannon, who had grown up in quiet green pastures in Tennessee, as he braved the dizzying turmoil of New York City streets, rolled in his first snowfall, and galloped on Coney Island beaches for exercise. From midtown Manhattan, Patricia moved with her family to an Illinois farm where she and Jack spent an entire year documenting the life of a farm kid (JOEL GROWING UP A FARM MAN, Dodd Mead).
Then, to Patricia's surprise and delight, a mischievous rhyming parrot chirped its way into her imagination. Who could resist him? Not Patricia. She wrote her first picture book, MAX THE BAD-TALKING PARROT (Dutton, Inc.). More picture books and an early chapter book would follow, their cast of characters tickling the funny bones of young fans.
Meanwhile, Patricia started to share fascinating facts about the natural world as she she wrote a series of nonfiction books for the All Aboard Reading series (Grosset & Dunlap). She became well-known for writing simple fluent prose packed with juicy information: snakes that could swallow a whole pig in one bite (SNAKES, Grosset & Dunlap); smoking chimneys on the deep-sea floor with giant worms clinging to them (WAY DOWN DEEP, Grosset & Dunlap); and huge graying gorillas called silverbacks who ruled their groups like wise old kings and beat their chests to scare away leopards (GORILLAS, Grosset & Dunlap).
In all, Patricia has authored 17 children's books in fiction and nonfiction genres. Her books have won numerous awards including Best Children's Book, Society of Midland Authors; Georgia Children's Storybook Award; Outstanding Science Book (Children's Book Council and National Science Teachers Association); Outstanding Book in Social Sciences (National Council for the Social Studies and Children's Book Council); Sequoyah's Children's Books Masterlist; Children's Choices of 1987 (International Reading Association and the Children's Book Council); and Children's Books of the Year (Child Study Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College).
Today, after a break from publishing, Patricia is happily writing books again. Most days find her tapping away at her laptop on the patio in the lovely garden tended by her husband Bill Reich. A sequel to MAX THE BAD-TALKING PARROT is in the works, along with another picture book photographed by Jack Demuth. Patricia's imagination still seeks new vistas and she is completing her first full-length novel for young readers. Stay tuned.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite childhood book, November 24, 2003

By 

Faulknernut "Faulknernut" (atlanta, georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Max, the Bad-talking Parrot: 2 (Unicorn Paperback) (Paperback)

Publishers Weekly is very wrong. I finally broke down and purchased my favorite childhood book, and even as I go back and read it, it brings a smile to my face. Max's rhymes are cute and hilarious, and the book does not promote bad language.
Basically, the book is about a woman, her parrot Max, and the neighbor Mrs. Goosebump. Max gets upset when he hears his dear friend Mrs. Goosebump say he's ugly, so every time she comes around, he insults her. Max talks only in rhyme, so this is quite cute. Anyway, a theft occurs and Max ends up saving the day-not by his bad-talking but by saying one of his nonbad trademark phrases. This is an adorable book that will make kids laugh (and probably some adults, too). It also teaches great lessons about not jumping to conclusions, how insults hurt others, and how being ugly gets you nowhere.

5.0 out of 5 stars Max, the Bad-Talking Parrot, April 29, 2005

By 

J. Verrall "Kindergarten teacher" (Lynnwood, Washington USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Max, the Bad-talking Parrot: 2 (Unicorn Paperback) (Paperback)

I have to disagree with Publisher's remarks as well. I have read this book to countless kindergarten classes and every class has rolled on the floor laughing at Max's rhymes. It is THE most requested read-aloud over and over...of course that is helped by my reading Max's voice in a croaky, parrot-like voice.