Max and Ruby's Treasure Hunt

September 1, 2012
Wells cultivates her taproot into the minds and actions of young kids for an exuberant return adventure for Max and Ruby. When a thunderstorm ruins Ruby's tea party, Grandma suggests the four bunnies have a treasure hunt. "There are seven clues hidden in seven places....Follow the clues, and you will find the treasure." Each clue is a nursery rhyme with a missing word that rhymes: "I'm a little ______, short and stout. Tip me over and pour me out!" The clue is concealed under a flap on the page, and the bunnies excitedly fill in the missing word on the following page. The final treasure box has five gold coins filled with chocolate--but wait, there are only four bunnies! They decide to give the fifth to Lily's doll, Dagmar, but where is she? Instead of ending the story with the discovery of the treasure, Wells adds one more fillip of fun as the bunnies retrace their steps and clues to find the doll. The large format and heavy paper are filled with Wells' sprightly and charming illustrations, with borders added to the bottom of the clue pages that repeat an image of the rhyme: Jack jumps over the candlestick; Miss Mary Mack sits back to, showing off her silver buttons, buttons, buttons. Perfect for one-to-one sharing or small group participation; one reading will not be enough. (Picture book. 3-5)

COPYRIGHT(2012) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2012

PreS-Gr 2-This oversize lift-the-flap book offers an interactive reading experience for Max and Ruby fans and for those as yet unacquainted with the rabbit siblings, their grandmother, and their friends. When a thunderstorm drives everyone inside, Grandma proposes a treasure hunt. Each clue will be a nursery rhyme with a missing word. Once the children unravel the mystery, they run to the room in the house that is the likely location for each object. Max and his friend Lily are just as clever as their older siblings, and this tale is free of Ruby's usual bossiness. There are plenty of opportunities for young listeners to participate, with thumbprint clues stretched across the bottom of the pages. The flaps-perfect for little hands to lift -are larger versions of the envelopes containing the rhymes, and more clues are given on the envelope seals. This latest Max and Ruby adventure has all the charm one expects from Wells.-Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 1, 2012
Preschool-G *Starred Review* Packed with interactive fun, Wells' latest story about the rabbit Max and his older sister, Ruby, is an exciting picture book with lift-the-flap clues that blend Mother Goose rhymes with playful suspense at home. During a thunderstorm, Grandma sets up a treasure hunt for Max, Ruby, Louise (Ruby's best friend), and Louise's little sister, Lily. There are seven clues hidden in seven places, each one leading to the next, starting with Cock-a-doodle-doo / My dame has lost her . . . Who can think of what she lost? The answer is shoe, and the kids find the next clue in Max's sneaker. A flap covering the shoe reveals another rhyming clue, which leads the treasure hunters to a teapot, which leads them to a candlestick, and so on. Along the way, Wells includes guessing games that encourage kids to think of rhyming words while they puzzle out the clues. The endearing images, in ink, watercolor, colored pencil, and collage, show the kids at play and also include small, framed pictures of the possibilities they imagine: for Hickory, Dickory, Dock, could the answer be lock, sock, rock, or block ? Preschoolers will want to return to the beginning to sound out the words and find more visual details. This is Wells at her best. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: With their own Nickelodeon show, tie-in toys, and a dedicated website packed with activities, Max and Ruby have become a big-budget franchise(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)