Customer Reviews

Max and Ruby in Pandora's Box (Picture Puffin Books)

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

 

 

My 2 boys, ages 5 and 2, really enjoy this book. It uses a universal sibling problem---one touching another's property---to set up a retelling of Pandora's Box. In this version, Pandora's Box contains bugs, which are then eaten by a big spider---a real child pleaser touch! My older son says he likes this book because "it's one book inside another book". He loves the idea of a story within a story, and gets excited that at the end "Max and Ruby are back again!"

My son, age five, and daughter, age three, have enjoyed the Pandora's Box title for over a year. They listen attentively right from the start when Ruby expressly forbids Max from tampering with her jewelry box. Anticipation is high when Ruby segues into the story of 'sneaking, peeking' Pandora. Ruby's version of the classic Greek myth keeps them on the edge of their seats. They can easily imagine how Pandora feels as she opens the box in her mother's room. Heart rates escalate as swarms of insects emerge. Relief finally sets in in the form of a spider spinning an enormous web. The kids remain intrigued right to the end when Pandora's mother returns home wearing insect jewelry!

To illustrate her point, Ruby reads a story about Pandora's Box to her younger brother Max. Throughout the story, Ruby interrogates her younger brother Max. My young listeners just crack up at his flippant responses.

An ideal book for children dealing with bossy older siblings!

Terrific illustrations elucidate the allure of the box and portray the consequence of disobedience (swarming bugs). Provides kids with background knowledge. Thus, highly recommended.

NO! THIS MEANS YOU!
What good is a sign posted on your bedroom door if your nosy 3-year-old brother can't read it? To keep Max away from her forbidden jewelry box, 7-year-old Ruby reads a light-hearted version of the Greek myth Pandora's Box.

The text is more detailed than a typical Max and Ruby board book written for toddlers. The advanced vocabulary includes words such as temptation, magnetic, propelled, forbidden, and terraceum (a word created for this book, I believe). But we've never met a Max and Ruby book we didn't like, and this one was no exception. If you're as curious as Pandora, sneak a peek at Well's other Greek myth Max and Ruby's Midas.

This is a good simple story about obedience and responsibility and a departure form the the TV show. My daughter is a big fan and at 2 years old the story was a little "over her head". I would recommend for slightly older children who are familiar with this characters.

A children's book that's easy to read and keeps my child interested. Great book.