Common Sense Media Review
Baby Max struggles to write -- kids will relate.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 2+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Max has not yet learned to talk, read, or write, so how can he convey his yearning for Red-Hot Marshmallow Squirters? Cleverly, he takes his cue from older sister Ruby, who proficiently uses signs and symbols to communicate. Max experiences the frustration of learning a difficult skill, but finds out that persistence and ingenuity make it possible to achieve new goals.
Is It Any Good?
Max exhibits an important stage of learning to read and write as he invents his own symbol to get his message across in this entertaining story. When children scribble a message and expect adults to be able to read it, they are demonstrating their understanding that people communicate through written symbols. With support from adults and meaningful opportunities to engage in pretend writing, they gradually begin to recognize traditional symbols, such as the letters of the alphabet.
Ruby and Max's use of written symbols is integral to the story line and a focal point of the illustrations. Writing is further emphasized by close-up insets of the yellow-lined paper and the written messages of both characters. Rosemary Wells' cartoonlike style of drawing and her expressive bunny characters will keep children pleading, "Read it again!"
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how they communicate. How do you tell someone you're sad or that you want a special snack? Can you point to any letters in the book and say what they are?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Rosemary Wells
- Genre : Picture Book
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Penguin Group
- Publication date : January 1, 1997
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 2 - 4
- Number of pages : 22
- Last updated : July 12, 2017
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