Customer Reviews

Max's First Word (Max Board Books)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Ruby and Max's interactions are so simply stated, yet so representative of sibling and even parent/child relationships. Rosemary Wells makes me react (in this case, laugh) along with my child as we read about Ruby and Max's conversations and adventures. I consider that a sign of a good children's book....a truly shared experience.

In this particular book, the readers get a great perspective on Max, whose usual, simple verbalizations are evident (his one and only word is BANG!) but also made evident are the wheels that are constantly turning in his brain, when he, without prompt, comes out with "Delicious!" after biting into an apple. A good reminder that even our littlest ones are watching and learning even before they are talking.

Another short, simple, sweet Max and Ruby book to share with your child.

This is absolutely my son's favorite book, and has been since he was about 11 months old. He will sort through all of his books, pick this one, and come toddling over to me-grinning from ear to ear-and sit down in my lap to have it read to him. The fun of it is, its particular brand of humor has not gotten old for me, either.

We have introduced the book to several friends and their children. The adults have all become Rosemary Wells addicts (like us) and the children always drag it out to hear it, asking "Bang? Bang?" I respect Wells' books because she is able to write stories simple enough for infants and toddlers to enjoy, full of clear pictures, that can still make parents laugh every time, too.

Max's First Word is a book that features the brother and sister bunny duo of Max and Ruby and, like other Max and Ruby books, it is exceptionally simplistic, both in dialogue and with its illustrations. In this printed installment of the Max and Ruby sibling saga, we have Max showing his unwillingness to learn new words. His sister Ruby patiently tries to explain to Max that he is not saying the correct word when presented with different objects. But at the book's end, Max surprises everyone by uttering a word that is more complicated than all of the others in the book, proving that Max does have the ability to say these and other words after all.

This is a very short, very simple book and it can easily be read cover to cover in less than two minutes. The illustrations in this book are equally simplistic and they basically look just like the images taken from the Max and Ruby television cartoon series. There is little in the way of eye- catching artwork on the pages of this book. With a few minor exceptions, the background on the pages is blank. This makes the pages less than appealing visually, but it does serve one important purpose: To keep the child's attention focused on the words, the object Max is looking at, and the corresponding word Max needs to say.

This book is intended for the young toddler age group. It is manufactured as a board book, which means that youngsters will not be able to tear the pages and can basically take the book from place to place and use it as they wish without much noticeable wear and tear. The limited words and limited length make it just right for the one to four age group. The message and lesson about learning words is also right in line with this younger group of toddlers.

Max's First Word is a very basic, simple book overall that succeeds in some ways and not in others. It does tend to hold the attention of youngsters who like the Max and Ruby television show and it is also useful as a learning tool for encouraging kids to pronounce certain words. It would be better if the words were easier to follow and if there were more of them, but it still ranks as an acceptable book overall and little kids between the ages of one and four will enjoy the book very much- even if only for a very brief period of time.

Twenty-five years ago my son couldn't sleep without Max and his first word. Terrific book for children - Max is so intelligent and independent!

"Bang," said Max has been a family expression for many years, but we lost or gave away our copy "Max's First Word" years ago. The book is as wonderful as we remembered. The particular copy I bought was in pretty ragged shape, but I knew that would be the case - it only cost 99cents. And that the book was well used tells me that someone else loved it as much as we do.

This is a wonderful book. Wells is brilliant at getting across a funny, witty story in so few words. This is the first book that made my baby daughter laugh! (My sound effects--I bang the book when I say "bang"--no doubt help!) I choose this book a lot for other babies and toddlers.

Let me introduce Max, and his older sister Ruby if you are not already familiar with these endearing little bunnies. Max is generally the mischievous one, while big sister Ruby is helpful, but often bossy. In this short story Ruby attempts to teach Max some new words as his first, and only word is BANG. She starts with CUP, then try's POT, BROOM, FISH, EGG, CHAIR and finally APPLE. In the end, Max takes a big bite out of the apple and triumphantly declares it DELICIOUS! "MAX's First Word," is a charming account of brotherly and sisterly love, and teaches a few words too. I love that Max's first word is BANG, kid's love hearing, BANG, BANG, BANG.

The text is very short; only ten pages long, and incorporates humor, which is always desirable. This little board book measures 7" x 7" x ¼", and is simply illustrated, yet the images are colorful and expressive for easy comprehension. I found "MAX's First Word," difficult to read aloud. There are TOO many "he said/ she said's" in this story, as in many of Ms. Wells books. For instance, the story begins, "Max's one word was BANG! No, Max, said sister, Ruby. Say CUP. BANG, said Max." The wording is awkward to read out loud, and does not flow. Cute story, yet taxing text. Birth and up.