Horn Book Review
Wells's popular board books have been unnecessarily altered in these editions. The books are larger and less easy for small hands to manage; pastel-colored backgrounds have replaced the bold colors that contrasted so strikingly with the white rabbits; distracting patterns and additional colors have been incorporated into the new illustrations; and even the typeface is fancier. Search out the close-to-perfect originals. From HORN BOOK Fall 1998, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Max's First Word is BANG, and after big sister Ruby tries unsuccessfully to get him to name the CUP, POT, EGG, APPLE, and other items pictured, his second word (after his biting the apple and Ruby's ""Say YUM YUM, Max"") is DELICIOUS! The route of Max's First Ride (in--and out of--his carriage) is traced in short simple sentences built around such pointers as GO, UP, UNDER, and STOP. Max's Toys gives readers a chance to count to ten with Ruby, who is making a point of Max's many toys so that he will leave her doll Emily alone. And Max's New Suit, the longest of the four stories, describes in 130 words and in pictures Max's typically haywire attempt to dress himself. Though Wells' fat furry creatures (these could be white rabbits) haven't the personalities of her earlier creations, she does manage to slip some real humor and surprises into these cleverer-than-usual examples of the all-cardboard very-first book. However, with an audience as likely to bite the book as the apple, whether their place is the library rather than the home nursery (via bookstore) is another question. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
