Max's Half Birthday

Penguin Young Readers: Max and Ruby

by Rosemary Wells, Andrew Grey (Illustrator)

Half birthdays are a whole lot of fun!Max wants to have a party, but it isn't his birthday. So Grandma comes up with a great They'll celebrate his half birthday instead! Complete with cupcakes (cut in half) and paper hats (also halved), the festivities finish with everyone singing "Happy Half Birthday to You!"

Genres: Picture Books, Fiction

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 6, 2018

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).

Reviews

[Taylor Relacion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max's Half Birthday is about two bunnies, Max and Ruby. Max wants a birthday party, but it's not his birthday yet. So their grandma comes up with the idea to celebrate his half birthday, they cut the cupcakes and the birthday hats in halves and everyone sings happy half birthday. Since this is an early-reader book this book would be for readers in grade kindergarten through 2nd grade because there's only few words on each page and the book is very short. It is made for students to practice their words and reading.
I would include this book in my classroom because it will be able to help students who have trouble reading and it is just a fun, different book. I like this book because I have read it in the past when I was a child and I also watched the show every morning on nickelodeon.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wholehearted fun and love for little Max. What a creative idea, celebrating half birthdays!

Sometimes it's just not your birthday, you know? Max is in that predicament until his Grandma comes up with a fine idea.

Max's Half Birthday celebration includes grandparents, dolls and robots. As for the special touches:

* Cupcakes, cut in half
* Paper hats, cut in half
* As for the climax of this party, what will be the song? "Happy Half Birthday to You!"

FIVE STARS for a lively picture book that contains a fine party idea.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half-birthdays are fun - especially for school-aged children. (I'm not sure about every young'un getting both a birthday party AND a half birthday party just because they're impatient, but whatever.)
I remember worrying that my little was going to be born too late in June that even her half-birthday would fall over winter break and she'd never get to celebrate at school. :p

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an early reader at Level 2 and just right for a first grader or second grader to read. What fun to have a 1/2 birthday and have a 1/2 cupcake. Cute story of Max and his sister Ruby cooperating.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max wants a birthday party but it's not near his birthday so he has a half birthday party. Love the party hat! Preschool and up

[Hanlin Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book a 3 because it is too easy and too short. I like this silly story, though.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

After attending two birthday parties, Max wants to celebrate his birthday even though it’s not his birthday yet.

[Jj · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ohhhhh, Rosemary Wells! I have enjoyed so many of your fine works over the years. Sadly, this is not one of them. Despite the charming idea of Max celebrating his half birthday, I found the story to be distinctly lacking the "Max and Ruby" sibling synergy we have come to know and love. I see that you wrote the story, but some other artist illustrated it. The illustrations were a disappointment--they are somehow lacking the sweet, humorous quality of your own art--so please refrain from this sort of thing in the future if at all possible. Thankfully, you did illustrate the cover! Bless you for that, and I will look forward to reading more of your own written and illustrated works going forward.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.