Max Explains Everything

April 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 2-A charming story about a trip to the grocery store that will resonate with children and adults. Max, like many children, does not like going food shopping with his mom. In fact, he'd even use water instead of milk with his cereal to avoid the dreaded trip to the supermarket. When his excuses to avoid the trip don't work, he makes the most of it, starting with finding the right cart. Highlights of the excursion include a free sample, but Max also gets into "bored child" mischief during the visit. He even helps his mom by trying to add things to the cart that won't pass muster. Illustrations are bright, colorful, and fun. For example, there is a map that shows his mom's shopping route that includes attention to practically every item in the store and his a mere beeline to the cookie section. The artwork is positive, making light of the drudgery that may accompany a grocery store visit. VERDICT Simple text and the subject matter make this a good selection for a different kind of storytime. It also works for families at home and lends itself to discussion.-Robin Sofge, Prince William Public Library System, VA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2019
Curly-haired Max eventually comes around to accept his conscription as Mom's errand-companion and shares his expertise in a how-to guide for potential supermarket-draftees. Digitally manipulated gouache and colored-pencil illustrations show stylized (and stylish) characters amid the store's abundance. Comic-book elements create gentle dramatic irony, but Max navigates the tedium in earnest, making realistically childlike attempts to manipulate a loving but savvy mother.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from March 1, 2018
A trip to the grocery store is so much fun...not.When it comes to avoiding the grocery store, Max is a pro. "Hide. Fake an injury. Hide again." If necessary, "Fake a bigger injury," he advises. But Max knows resistance is futile and also offers survival tactics. First, find the perfect cart, he says. The "classic" and "original" shopping cart "is best" because "it's sleek, big and fast." The produce section "is a good place to learn to juggle," he continues, and "keep a lookout for free samples." Max also has a big bag of tricks for getting what he wants. "Grab all your favorite cookies and then give your mom your saddest puppy-dog eyes." And to ensure you're one step closer to getting a pet, "always grab a bag of dog food." Hocking cleverly uses double-page spreads for multiple effects. A hand-drawn map illustrates his (Max's) and her (Mom's) shopping routes. The cereal aisle, as seen from a kid's point of view, occupies almost the entire spread, gently mocking the mind-boggling array of cereal varieties available to consumers. After McAnulty's snappy text weaves in and out of a bag of bagels, ravioli in a can, frozen peas, etc. at the checkout counter, readers learn a very important lesson: At the grocery store, you may not get what you want or remember to buy everything you need, but there's always candy. Both Mom and Max have light-brown skin and dark hair.A fun romp around the grocery store that kids will relate to and a wonderful read-aloud. (Picture book. 3-6)

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