Max at Night: A perfect bedtime read

 

From Max at Night by Ed Vere (Puffin Books 2015) | Illustration © 2015 by Ed Vere

“A kitten is the delight of a household. All day long a comedy is played out by an incomparable actor.”

— Champfleury

I thought I’d continue with last week’s cat theme.

Not another pure white one like Monet’s cat. This week, it’s a jet black kitten called Max.

There are three Max books in all. (I wish there were more.) They are all worth sharing - but it’s his second adventure, Max at Night (Puffin Books, 2015) that is today’s recommendation.

 

From Max at Night by Ed Vere (Puffin Books 2015) | Illustration © 2015 by Ed Vere

Created by Ed Vere (Booktrust’s Illustrator in Residence), The Sunday Times ranks Max in its ‘100 Modern Children’s Classics’. Vere describes his character as being ‘a combination of curious, feisty and tenacious’. And what’s more - this kitty is oh-so-cute! 

Vere’s illustrations are simply drawn, minimal and direct. So minimal in fact, that I hadn’t noticed - Max has no mouth (although he does speak). Max is, effectively, a silhouette.

“I only have his eyes and his body posture to tell you how he’s feeling,” says Vere. 

And oh! Those eyes! Enormous and yellow, they shine out like headlamps from the subdued flat-coloured backgrounds, amplifying Max’s naive, kitten charm.

 

In some ways, Max reminds me of those classic cat characters, Krazy Kat and Felix (and the more contemporary Mooch from Mutts, Patrick McDonnell’s comic strip). There’s also something of the silent movies - and mime artists - about him. (I’m reminded of two classic children’s book, too - but more of that in a minute.) And the way Max slips between walking on all fours to standing upright - à la Peter Rabbit - is seamless.

In keeping with the illustrations, Vere’s story is perfectly distilled.

 

It’s way past Max’s bedtime - and he is very sleepy.

‘Goodnight Fish,’ says Max.

‘Goodnight Box,’ says Max.

‘Goodnight Spider,’ says Max.

‘Goodnight Moon,’ says Max.

 

Most good stories have an inciting incident (the thing that launches the action), and here it is: 

 

The moon is nowhere to be seen.

‘Moon… Moon! Where are you Moon?’ says Max.

 

From Max at Night by Ed Vere (Puffin Books 2015) | Illustration © 2015 by Ed Vere

 

Curiosity leads Max outside ‘into the starlit night’ in search of the moon. ‘Maybe I’ll see Moon if I get a little higher,’ thinks Max.

He clambers on top of a sleeping dog…

‘Up a tall, tall tree’…

Then higher still, ‘up amongst the rooftops.’

 

‘Oh, Moon. Where are you Moon,’ says Max.

 

Max’s search takes him to the top of the Tallest Building, and finally ‘to the highest of the high hills, where the wind blows cold and strong.’

I love the next spread. Out of sheer frustration, Max yells: ‘Mooooooooon! Where are yoooouu?’

 

From Max at Night by Ed Vere (Puffin Books 2015) | Illustration © 2015 by Ed Vere

 

It’s essential children see themselves reflected in books: Their fears, frustrations, dreams and everyday lives. It reassures and grounds them. So it’s no bad thing that Max has a bit of a tantrum.

And just as a good yell and cry can chase those highly charged emotions away, so the wind ‘blows and blows and blows the clouds away’ - to reveal Moon, ‘full and brilliant in the night sky.’ Again, an experience children will easily relate to. (Even now, I love watching the moon roll out from behind the clouds!)

Max is tired and happy. Satisfied, he traces his way back home,

And ‘sleepy, very sleepy - he climbs the stairs to bed.’

By the time you reach the end, the pacing of the words and pictures (and the soporific language) should have everyone nodding off - making this a great one to share at bedtime!

 

From Max at Night by Ed Vere (Puffin Books 2015) | Illustration © 2015 by Ed Vere

 There is something familiar and reassuring about Max at Night. 

In many respects, it reminds me of the classic kids’ books, Goodnight Moon and Are You My Mother? They share a gentleness and simplicity of language. They are repetitive and soothing. 

Like Margaret Wise Brown’s language in Goodnight Moon, Vere’s is deceptively simple and gently poetic (For example, ‘the tall, tall tree only rustles in the breeze.’).

It’s as if Vere’s adopted the look and feel of Moon, and taken Max on a similar journey to the baby bird. But instead of looking for his mother, Max is searching for the moon. Vere uses flat areas of solid colour (reminiscent of Hurd’s illustrations in Goodnight Moon) to focus our attention on Max. (His bright yellow eyes even evoke the light from the doll’s house in the great green room.)

 

From Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, ill. by Clement Hurd (Harper & Bros. 1947) | Illustration © renewed 1975 by Trustees of the Edith and Clement Hurd 1982 Trust

 

In this way, Vere captures the essence of those classics - then brings them bang up to date with an injection of gentle humour that they lack.

There’s one other thing that I realised. Just like the baby bird in Are You My Mother?, Max the kitten climbs up onto a sleeping dog's head. I fell in love with that story at pre-school. Maybe that’s part of the connection for me?

 

From Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman (Random House 1960) | Illustration © 1960 by P.D. Eastman. Renewed 1988 by Mary L. Eastman

 Why Max at Night is Good to Read

Kids will love the adorably cute Max.

The illustrations are expressive and stylish.

The story is gentle and soothing.

As with the other Max books, it will withstand repeat bedtime readings.

Good to Read

More picture books starring cats

Mr Pusskins by Sam Lloyd

Monet’s Cat by Lily Murray and Becky Cameron

Posy by Catherine Rayner

There Are Cats in this Book by Viviane Schwarz

Baker Cat by Posy Simmonds

Ginger by Charlotte Voake

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‘Max’s plight and nighttime quest will ring true for any child who has ever called out from a dark bedroom for comfort. - Kirkus Reviews

 


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* I earn commission from this link #ADSources Opening Quote (Champfleury, Shutterfly.com, September 14 2020)Max at Night by Ed Vere (Puffin Books, 2015) Ed Vere Interview (The Book Baby, November 7 2014) Interview with Ed Vere (picturebookblogger.wordpress.com, June 2 2016) Ed Vere’s Website (edvere.com) Max at Night (Kirkus Review, September 3 2016)© 2020 BY TIM WARNES (UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.