Customer Reviews

Max in Hollywood, Baby

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It is easy to see why Maira Kalman's MAX IN HOLLYWOOD, BABY received a citation as "one of the ten best illustrated books of 1991." Those illustrations contain as many wonderful surprises and secrets, double meanings and jokes as the words they sit with. Even the end papers are filled with delightful drawings of dozens of Hollywood superstars from Charlie Chaplin and Fanny Brice to Judy Garland and Jean-Paul Belmondo.

The text is, I guess, written to entertain children but it is just as charming and entertaining to this adult with its story of the "real" Hollywood: Dozens of wacky Show-Biz types appear including the psychic to the stars, Madame Gilzelka; the producer, Bella Broccoli, who insists on drinking a concoction which produces "the secret of youth;" and his "tantalizing" starlet Monica Zitti; The hero is, of course, Max,the dog/movie-lover who becomes Mr. Stravinsky, hot-shot director pining to be a celebrity. ("I won't have conversations, I'll just have monologues.") Can our Max handle the pressure? the pretense? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out. Along the way you'll also discover why Ferrrnando Extra Debonnaire who studied at the Royal Academy of Driving Directors tells Max, "Watch your step in this town. There are some back-stabbing, power-hungry, status-seeking vegetarians here." HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, especially for those readers determined to have a career in the movies, no matter how high the cost.

Max in hollywood, baby is a great story, the author,Maira Kalman, has a real feel for charactors and is so in touch with Max that she is becoming that charactor, at least to me.If you read this book you will love it so much you will want to read all the Max books. I can speak as one who has read it and I fell in love with this charactor at once,maybe you think I am just babeling but I speak the truth.

This is the worst Max book. Max Makes a Million is brilliant. Oh-La-La Max in Love is very strong. But this is just muddled, not easily grasped, and not very interesting. My kids never want to hear this book and I never want to read it.

This is purported to be a children's book? It reads like someone who desperately wants to make sure everyone knows how hip they are to the ways of Hollywood and celebrity. The story is beyond the grasp of children and yet way too juvenile for adults. Even the design and illustration are a perfect example of how to make a mess with too many changing fonts and too many precious doodles.

I noticed that Ms. Kalman recently did the illustrations for the new Elements of Style and with some restraint, her talent is much better displayed in those pages.

yes, it's hip. yes, it's funny for grownups. but kids like it too, the pictures are hilarious, and the text was written to be read aloud. if you're not reading it aloud, it just isn't as fun. max is a dog poet and he's telling his story. kalman's description of the characters and processes max and crepes suzette encounter in hollywood is spot-on. it's the third book in the max series, but it stands on its own. i have given this book countless times to both children and grownups, and everyone has loved it. when my kids are grown, i will keep it on the shelf to read to my grandkids.