Max's Birthday (Wells, Rosemary. Max Board Books.)

Rating:
Summary: "Max's Birthday" not really about birthdays
Review: I was disappointed with "Max's Birthday" because it wasn't about birthdays at all: it was all about Max getting a toy lobster that he was afraid of. Other than a wrapped present on the cover and a party hat and birthday-cake clothes throughout, a toddler would have a hard time knowing that this is a book about birthdays. When I bought this after a search of the Baby/Preschool category, looking under the keyword "birthday," my hope had been to obtain a couple of good books to help my two toddlers understand the concept of turning 2 and celebrating the event. To me, this just didn't cut it.

Rating:
Summary: Another Great Max Book
Review: The Max books are among my favorites for small children, and this one is no exception. While it explores concepts like "over," "under," etc., at the same time it includes interesting illustrations and a story line that preschoolers and their parents can relate to (Max is afraid of his birthday present -- a windup dragon -- at first, but after running away from it for several pages, in the end says, "Again!"). In all of the Max books that we have read so far, the author incorporates amusing common childhood traits into an entertaining story that everyone can relate to. This book gets my vote for one that parents and children will enjoy reading together, over and over.