________________ CM . . . . Volume V Number 12 . . . . February 12, 1999

cover Max's Christmas.

Rosemary Wells.
New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers (Distributed in Canada by McClelland & Stewart, Inc.), 1998.
19 pp., board, $14.50.
ISBN 0-8037-2353-9.

Subject Headings:
Christmas-Fiction.
Santa Claus-Fiction.
Rabbits-Fiction.

Preschool / Ages 2 - 5.
Review by Dave Jenkinson.

**** /4

excerpt:

"Guess what, Max!" said Max's sister, Ruby.
"What?" said Max.
"It's Christmas Eve, Max," said Ruby, "and you know who's coming!"
"Who?" said Max.
image As Ruby tries to put her younger brother, Max, to bed on Christmas Eve, he is filled with questions. When Ruby tells Max that he has to go to sleep quickly, he states he is going to stay awake to see Santa. Ruby informs him that he cannot because, "Nobody ever sees Santa Claus." Max's response is yet another question, "Why?" Like so many others who have tired of the seemingly unending questions of young children, Ruby resorts to the conversation ending, "BECAUSE!" With his sister gone, Max sneaks downstairs and waits for Santa by the fireplace. Suddenly, Santa appears and pops his red cap on Max's head, covering his eyes, because "nobody is supposed to see me!" Max, being Max, peppers Santa with so many questions that even jolly old St. Nick must take refuge in "BECAUSE!" Max achieves some justice the next morning when Ruby finds him asleep on the couch, Santa's hat on his head. When Ruby asks, "Why is your blanket so bumpy and bulgy?" Max, revealing all the wrapped gifts under the blanket, can reply, "BECAUSE!"

      The black line-drawings, with coloured ink washes, are appropriately simple for a board book intended for very young audiences, and, in the main, each page carries little text. All of the characters, including Santa, are rabbits. Despite its obvious seasonal connection, Max's Christmas is a book for every day. Why? BECAUSE!

Highly Recommended.

Dave Jenkinson teaches courses in children's and adolescent literature at the Faculty of Education, the University of Manitoba.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - FEBRUARY 12, 1999.

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