Max's Halloween (Max Board Books)
It's another winner from Rosemary Wells! Gentle, funny, and sturdy, this is a great choice for the toddler set. Mischievous bunny Max (clearly a toddler himself) and his big sister Ruby trick-or-treat their way through the neighborhood, visiting Aunt Bunny, Mr. Huffington, the Warthog sisters, Uncle Bunny, and Grandma. When Max eats all dozen of the grape grenades he receives at their very first stop, Ruby confiscates his candy holder. ("Max," said Ruby. "You are going to get sick. I will carry the candy. You say trick-or-treat.")
As any kid will know, Max doesn't like that arrangement very much. Fortunately for him, all those tricky grown-ups sneak extra candy into his costume when Ruby's not looking.
The story ends at Grandma's house, where Ruby announces that she'll sort their candy while Max should get ready for bed. The last page shows a happy Max, alone in his room, pouring candy out of his costume. "Trick or treat!" he finally says.
In her Max books, Rosemary Wells often uses some wonderfully funny names for toys and candies. In this installment, our trick-or-treating heroes get gummy toads, fruit bats, and slime dribblers. (As well as those fateful grape grenades.)
My kids (three and six) are huge fans of Max and Ruby, and so am I. Ruby may be bossy, and Max may be naughty, but they're also, both of them, marvelous. My three-year-old particularly likes this book -- so much that he takes it to bed with him.
The illustrations are fabulous, full of hilarious little details, spot-on facial expressions, and gorgeous color.
