Maxwell's Mountain [Paperback]

Shari Becker (Author), Nicole E. Wong (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Maxwell wants to climb to the very top of the BIG hill - make that a mountain! - in his neighborhood park. Though his parents are leery, Maxwell is determined, and his sensible planning and quick thinking come to the rescue when trouble looms. With pluck and perseverance, Maxwell and his sidekick, green army man Harry, overcome every bump and boulder on the road to the top.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2–An adventurous boy investigates a new park in town and finds the usual slide, swing set, and sandbox but is excited to discover there is also a mountain to climb. After Maxwell states his intent to conquer the rock-covered hill, his father explains that he must first become a great outdoorsman. Following a trip to the library, the resourceful child reads and makes a list of what he must do to get ready for his climb. The big day finally arrives and Maxwell, his parents, and his trusty toy soldier arrive at the park. The young explorer, who appears to be about seven or eight, follows the yellow dots marking the trail, which begins on a gravel path and gradually moves upward into boulders. When Maxwell temporarily loses his way, he backtracks, finds the trail again, and successfully reaches the summit. Watercolor-and-ink illustrations, mainly in tan, yellow, and green, reveal a hill that appears larger in each successive picture. The childs parents are shown standing at the base of the hill, keeping a vigilant eye on their intrepid son. A final picture reveals a triumphant Maxwell sitting on an outcropping high above the rooftops: this will thrill children while making parents a bit queasy. The toy soldier that mimics the boys every move adds a bit of whimsy to the tale. A good, solid story about making the necessary preparations for attempting to reach a goal and then achieving success.–Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 2-4. Spotting a large, tempting hill behind the playground near his new house, Maxwell employs systematic preparation to dispel his parents' conviction that he's too little to tackle the hill. After training on the stairs, gathering first-aid and food supplies, mapping his course, and listening to parental advice ("if he gets into trouble, a true outdoorsman uses his head"), Maxwell takes on the rocky slope--accompanied by an intrepid-looking toy soldier named Harry. Maxwell copes with boulders and even with temporarily losing his way, until he ultimately reaches the top and discovers a splendid view of his neighborhood and the city beyond. Wong's fine-lined, softly textured watercolor illustrations hint that Maxwell may be partly of Asian descent, but children are more likely to notice the quiet determination with which Maxwell faces each obstacle and the well-earned triumph he experiences upon reaching his goal. John Peters
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (June 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580892124
• ISBN-13: 978-1580892124
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,429,590 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shari Becker has been telling stories for as long as she can remember.

She worked at Nickelodeon as an Associate Producer after completing Master of Arts in Children's Media at New York University. There she wrote copy and edited the work of outside writers and developed original concepts for the Web. It quickly became clear that Becker's greatest strengths lay in her creative brainstorming and writing abilities. After her work caught the eye of a Nickelodeon executive, he invited her to join Nick's Creative Lab, a think tank charged with developing innovative content bridging online and on-air worlds.

Since then Becker has remained dedicated to kids and quality children's media. She has consulted for Shadow Projects, the production company behind Disney's Emmy-award-winning Bear in the Big Blue House and Book of Pooh, and she has written for Nickelodeon, BabyZone.com and TimeforKids.com and publications such as Baby Years and Parents and Kids.

Becker finds inspiration everywhere - in her memories, in the news, and in the antics of her fun-loving husband and kids. They keep her laughing and writing.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You should read this book too, December 30, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Maxwell's Mountain (Hardcover)

I am seven and a half years old, and i really like this book. i think it is a good book because it teaches kids how to be a mountaun climber. my brother who is 3 liked it too. we liked the ending, and i thought it was funny.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important Lessons - "Listen to your heart" and "You can do it,", April 19, 2006

By 

Tracy Teicher (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Maxwell's Mountain (Hardcover)

I am a Kindergarten teacher who was thrilled to read Maxwell's Mountain to my class. This year (5 years old) is all about gaining a sense of sense, individuality, confidence, risk-taking, and independent problem-solving. Maxwell's Mountain fit right into our All About Me social studies curriculum. My students loved it. Some reactions were: "It's important because it teaches you how to climb a mountain!" "You can do it if you really try hard," "It tells you to listen to your heart," "It reminds me of Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel." The children really like the illustrations - especially the two page verticle spread. I'm sure we'll be reading it again soon.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, great lesson, January 7, 2007

By 

A. Barkow (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Maxwell's Mountain (Hardcover)

This is a great book, with an inspiring and educational lesson: work hard and prepare and you will succeed. In contrast to books like "Frederick," this book teaches kids what it really takes to succeed in life, and does it with a charming story and great illustrations. And, with all due respect to the reviewer from Durango, unless you live in the Rockies, the mountain is tall enough. We live in New York City, and it seemed like an accomplishment to me.