Max's First Word (Max Board Books) [Board book]

Rosemary Wells (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2004 | Age Level: 1 and up | Series: Max Board Books

Max's big sister, Ruby, tries to teach Max to say CUP, EGG, and APPLE, but his new word is DELICIOUS! Rosemary Wells's original four Max books, brought out in 1979, were the first high-quality board books published. Combined with the second four, published in 1985, total sales are over one million! And Mrs. Wells's followers are legion. Now she has completely reillustrated her eight delightful Max board books in her exciting and vibrant full-color style. The highly imaginative stories, loved by millions of young children, are even funnier with the new artwork. These are perfect first books, especially with the increased focus on the importance of reading to babies and toddlers, a cause that Mrs. Wells has been wholeheartedly promoting for several years with her The Most Important 20 Minutes of Your Day reading initiative.

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

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 1 and up
  
• Board book: 12 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (January 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067088717X
• ISBN-13: 978-0670887170
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 6.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #980,553 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just like some siblings I know, June 11, 2000

By 

K. Bennett (Rolla, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Max's First Word (Max and Ruby) (Board book)

There isn't a Max book for every occasion, and I hope there never will be. Max and his older sister Ruby are too much like real siblings to ever get stuck in the formulaic series rut. In fact, Ruby and Max are so much like my two oldest kids that I use the Max books to help my son deal with the frustrations of being the "little brother."

In one of the first books, Ruby is trying to expand toddler Max's vocabulary. He knows one word -- BANG -- and uses it often, with accompanying gestures. Ruby shows Max a cup. "Say CUP," she commands. "Bang," he replies. She shows him a pot, a broom, and egg, naming each item. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. He's still not catching on and now there's raw egg all over the floor.

Exasperated, Ruby helps Max into his high chair and shows him an apple, "Say APPLE, Max. YUM YUM, Max. Say YUM YUM."

Max takes a bite of the apple, then holds it aloft and repeats the new word he's learned. "DELICIOUS!"

The Max board books are great for babies and toddlers. If your kids are older, check out the picture books, which are even better than the board books.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Max is best, January 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Max's First Word (Max and Ruby) (Board book)

Max's First Word is my 10 months old son's favorite book. He yells to hear it over and over. It's short enough to keep his attention and we act out the voices of Max and his sister Ruby. We all (baby, mommy, and grandma) love it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I miss the old illustrations, March 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Max's First Word (Max and Ruby) (Board book)

Max is a real winner, a natural anarchist whose antics will amuse both his target audiences: toddlers/preschoolers, and their adults. At my library I recommend all the Max board books to parents of infants through 4 year-olds, but I must admit I miss the more charming illustrations of the old, now out-of-print editions.