Customer Reviews

Max's Breakfast (Max and Ruby)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Max doesn't like eggs, yet his big sister Ruby attempts to feed him one for breakfast. Max want strawberries, but Ruby insists he eat the egg first. Max tests his older sisters resolve by trying to get out of eating that egg: he covers it with a napkin, hides it on a chair, and finally climbs down from his chair, and hides under the table to avoid eating his breakfast. Ruby finds him, and demonstrates how good eggs are by taking a bite, "See, Max, said Ruby. It's a YUMMY, YUMMY EGG." One bite turns into two, and eventually Ruby eats the entire egg. Max tosses a strawberry into the air, and with a big grin on his face declares, "ALL GONE". Ruby is exasperated.

This cute story comes as a board book, and measures 7" x 7" x ¼". The text is very short; only ten pages long. Simply illustrated, yet the images are very expressive for easy comprehension. "MAX's Breakfast," is a funny tale about a picky eater, but as in many of Ms. Wells books, it is awkward to read aloud, "Eat your egg, Max, said Max's sister, Ruby." I have gotten to the point of discarding the last half of the sentences when reading her books, since they seems to flow better that way. Birth and up.

Rosemary Wells is, without a doubt, the best writer for small children who ever lived, and the Max books are her masterpieces. This one is a perfect example of why she's so good. The story is so simple and so true to life a 1-year-old can easily follow it: Max's bossy big sister Ruby wants him to eat an egg. But Max doesn't want the egg, he wants strawberries. (And what toddler isn't going to identify with a picky eater?) Max keeps hiding the egg until an exasperated Ruby takes a bite herself, to show him how delicious it is, then another bite, and another. The final page shows Max with a triumphant look on his face saying "All gone."

Children love Max. Adults laugh out loud when they read the Max books. He's just a charmer and a scamp and you can't help but love him. There are several nice, pleasant books for toddler's available, but very few really entertaining ones. Max's Breakfast (and all of the Max books, for that matter) is one of the best.

My grandchildren and I love Max & Ruby stories. Ms. Wells is very clever in the way she illustrates the characters so that the reader can actually see Max thinking about how to not have to eat the egg. If your children haven't met Max yet, then this is definitely a book for an infant or young toddler, but children who have met Max love to go back and "read" the early boardbacks on their own. It's like visiting a familiar friend.

This is a wonderful board book for babies. Pictures are colorful, words are easy to pronounce and it deals with things your baby sees every day. It is also great for little one's learning to read. Short and interesting it just the right length and just the right story.

The first editions of the Max series (Very First Books - 1979/1984) are wonderful. Unfortunately, the following editions are not as whimsical.It's worth it to look for the older books.

I loved the original of this title when I first found it years ago, and it's still a great book for kids and adults - an irresistibly charming tale whose unexpected, humorous denoument is well expressed in the spareness of childish dialogue. An ordinary situation in any child's life - the dislike of a certain food - becomes a funny experience adults can share with their toddlers and appreciate on several levels. Not a word or a line is wasted. As a final note, I should say that I really preferred the original artwork from 1979, but the differences are subtle enough not to matter except to a Rosemary Wells fan like myself!

The illustrations are wonderful... bright and colorful enough to grab all children. The idea of the story (picky eater) is definitely an issue that children can understand, as well as parents. The story is clever, but some of the writing leaves a little to be desired. The phrases "...said Max's sister, Ruby", "said Ruby" is said seven times in the storybook... there are only ten pages... and "said Max" is written three times. Those phrases are always the ones that distract my child away from the story... and this one was no exception.

Will Max eat his egg for breakfast? Ruby tries all the tricks she knows. Very cute Rosemary Wells story which many children can relate to. Board Book format will last for generations to be read over and over again.

This book is one of my grandson's favorite books. It is especially fun for a boy who has an older sister, who is always RIGHT.

My 2yr old loves these books. The board books are great because they are short enough you don't mind reading several.