Max

by Bob Graham, Bob Graham (Illustrator)

Overview

A special edition to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Bob Graham's heroic and heartfelt tale of growing up super. As the son of legendary superheroes Captain Lightning and Madam Thunderbolt, Max is destined to join their ranks - once he learns to fly, that is. But despite his parents’ valiant coaching and encouragement from his grandparents and friends, Max can’t seem to get off the ground. Will he ever learn to leap over tall buildings in a single bound? With quintessential quirkiness, award-winning author Bob Graham has created a mighty tale about the ups and downs of mastering your potential - all in your own good time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781406387742
Publisher:	Walker Books Ltd
Publication date:	07/02/2020
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.81(w) x 9.76(h) x 0.24(d)

About the Author

Bob Graham loves creating stories about "ordinary" families, so MAX presented a special challenge for him. He says, "In previous books, I tried to make the ordinary extraordinary, but here my problem was just the opposite: how to make this extraordinary family seem ordinary!"

Editorial Reviews

Author Bob Graham is known for writing about "ordinary" characters and revealing their unique, exceptional qualities. In Max, Graham was faced with the challenge of making a superhero family seem ordinary -- and also telling a great story!

The book begins with an introduction to young Max, the son of superhero parents, Captain Lighting and Madam Thunderbolt. Max lives with his parents and grandparents in a normal neighborhood, but their bright yellow house in the shape of a lightning bolt stands out.

These legendary superheroes are shown doing all the things normal parents do: getting dressed in the morning, shaving, and changing Max's diaper. And Dad muses that Max can walk and talk -- and soon he will fly! The whole family tries to help Max, throwing him on a trampoline and tossing him in the air. But nothing seems to work -- Max just floats back to earth. In fact, Max can't even hover. His grandpa remarks, "When I was his age, I got into trouble for leaving fingerprints on the ceiling lamp." Even the kids at Max's school wonder why he can't do all the things his parents can do. Max doesn't seem like a superhero, but just an ordinary kid with a cape and a mask.

One morning when the rest of the family is sleeping, Max hears a baby bird outside of his window -- and it's about to fall out of its nest! Max races downstairs, out the front door, and leaps into the air. Without hesitation he flies up and saves the bird. His parents and grandparents rush outside and beam in delight.

From that day on, Max can hardly keep himself grounded. He's always hovering and flying around. But is he going to be the same type of hero as his parents, saving the world from bullies and thieves? For now, Max is simply going to be a "small hero doing quiet deeds."

Graham's desire to make this extraordinary family seem normal is illustrated in the details. From showing napping grandparents in their capes and masks to placing Max's house in the suburbs, Graham invites young readers to relate to Max's life. Kids will also sympathize with Max's challenge to live up to his parents' expectations and to achieve the goals he sets for himself.

The illustrations consist of fluid lines and beautiful color, evoking a casual tone that makes the book very appealing and easy to understand. Max is another winner from Bob Graham, providing kids with a story that will act as a companion and a guide to dealing with life's challenges.

--Amy Barkat

barnesandnoble.com

Themes of patience, acceptance, and self-confidence get a lift in this humorous tale with a satisfying resolution.


—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Young readers will delight in the clever plot, colorfully illustrated in pen and watercolors, as the red-caped family soars through the pages of this large book.

—Chicago-Sun Times

From the Publisher