Bunny Mail: A Max & Ruby Lift-the-Flap Book

Max and Ruby

by Rosemary Wells

Ruby is busy sending out party invitations, so Max decides he'll write a letter too, asking for a special present. But when the postman delivers the letter to Grandma, she thinks Max is just saying hello. So Max sends another letter. It soon becomes clear to Grandma that Max is asking for something special. The only question is what? With eight clever flaps to lift, this heartwarming and interactive picture book gives Rosemary Wells fans even more reasons to love Max and Ruby, who are now starring in their own Nickelodeon television show.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Rabbits, Humor, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

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

[Spencer Orey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found a stack of these Max and Ruby books at the library. This was one of our favorites.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow I missed this one when my daughter was little - as always, cute and funny; Max's antics are adorable, and she always loved his sense of mischief. I love how Grandma always manages to somehow intuit what Max needs or wants even though his means of communicating isn't the most elaborate! Great fun for elementary-age readers.

[Liz C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mail Storytime

[Sandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter and I love these Max and Ruby books. Even my older kids will watch the cartoon on TV! Max and Ruby are just to cute. Max always is up to something, and he seems to be a mischief maker all the time but in the end he always has a reason for whatever stunt he was trying to pull off in the story! Ruby is the ever patient (well mostly) older sister! I think Rosemary Wells has just made the most darling characters in an ideal world for little kids!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE the letters from Max - perfect example of pre-writing writing. And the lift the flaps is brilliant!

[Cristina Quintero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entertaining story introduces young children to the concept of "writing to communicate meaning," as Max figures out a way to communicate his wish for a very specific present. In the story, Max explores with many different ways to communicate his message. Through the course of the story young children become aware of the many strategies that Max uses to make his communication method effective. This book is excellent for motivating children to use drawings and print combinations to communicate thoughts and ideas on paper.
I would use this book in preschool classrooms, in kindergarten classrooms and first grade classrooms. I would display this book at my literacy center along with envelopes, blank cards, stamps, markers, colored pencils, stamps and ink pads to encourage children to create their own cards, invitations, letters or mail to their family members, friends, or peers.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruby sends Grandma a picnic invitation, and Max sends Santa Claus multiple letters requesting a red motorcycle.

Ruby is planning a Fourth of July picnic, and she sends an invitation to Grandma, which gives Max the idea to write a letter to Santa requesting a red Sand-Spitter motorcycle with Bigfoot tires like Wilma Warthog drives around the neighborhood.

The postal carrier delivers Max’s letter to Grandma who gives her best guess as to the content and answers it. Max sends two additional letters before Grandma decodes what Max is saying. This is Similar to the sequence in Bunny Cakes during which Max makes several attempts to communicate what he wants with different scribbles before the grocers figures out the message.

This picture book features lift-the-flap letters.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I like about this book is how Grandma always makes an effort to interpret Max's letters and to respond, and how she eventually figures out what he has in mind. Also, the creativity Max shows in "writing".

[Nicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story, especially the trusty mailmanknowig just where to send the letter. My 4 year old liked opening up the letter flaps to see the picture letters.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids enjoyed opening the letters during story time.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to "open" the mail....because we all know it is fun to get mail!

[Fjóla · Rating 4 out of 5]

We only recently discovered Rosemary Wells' Max and Ruby, and have been slowly making our way through the books. And each new book instantly becomes my son's new favorite book. Max is adorable too, he just so epitomizes the toddler, coming across as more "real" than the real thing. MY personal favorite so far is Bunny Cakes, followed closely by Max Cleans Up.
Ah, how frustrating must it be not to be able express oneself with spoken words, let alone in writing. When Max sets his heart on something however, he sticks to it, and in Bunny Mail, just as in Bunny Cakes, ultimately manages to get his message across. It's hilariously funny and cute, and somehow doesn't get old no matter how many time you read it ...

[Kym · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Bunny Mail, Max, Ruby and Grandma. As always the illustrations are wonderful but the lift the flaps mail make them even more spectacular. The illustrations really interest you in the book and draw you into the story. When Grandma erroneously responds to Max's first letter the story takes off but Grandma prevails and solves the mystery. The relationship between Grandma and Max is so neat. Grandma is cool in a way that only a Grandmother can be. I highly recommend this book for enjoyment but it really extends to the classroom for a great read aloud and writing assignment. Students can write letters to loved ones and mail them.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story of Max and his grandmother sending letters back and forth, only Max can't write to get his message across easily. Finally, his grandmother figures it out, as is always the way with Max in this series. Lifting the flaps to read the letters was fun. This is for preschoolers. Its too long for younger kids and the flaps aren't exciting enough.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby is busy sending out party invitations, so Max decides he'll write a letter too, asking for a special present. But when the postman delivers the letter to Grandma, she thinks Max is just saying hello. So Max sends another letter. It soon becomes clear to Grandma that Max is asking for something special. The only question is what? With eight clever flaps to lift, this h.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max and Ruby are among my favorite characters in literature. Here's a funny thing: the Spouse made up stories with the Possum about an older sibling bunny with a younger sibling bunny. The Possum contributed their names: Kyle and Harmonica. Eventually Disney put Max & Ruby on TV and the Spouse gave up creating the stories, because he liked Wells stories more.

[Maggie KutsBorg · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a weird book - it's two stories in one, a 4th of July picnic and a letter to Santa (crossed with letters to Grandma) asking for a special toy. The lift-flap letters are cool but it's just so convoluted; if I had trouble with it it's hard to imagine children loving it. On the other hand, it's Max and Ruby, so that might be enough to get their attention.

[Stephanie Whittit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was an adorable book. I used to love watching Max and Ruby on Tv and I didn't know there were books too. The book was interactive because you could lift up the flaps of the letters that Max sent. It was enjoyable to read and I. Sure kids would like it to.

[Niku]

I have loved Max and Ruby ever since the magic disappearing bag, and oh! mail! hurray!

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie loves this, especially the envelopes and lift up flaps representing the mail.

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 4-year-old ADORES Max and Ruby so even if this isn't the best children' book out there, he loved it as if it were.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My nephew sure loves the Max and Ruby books! He was especially fond of this one because it featured a red motorcycle and Santa. Honestly, what's not to like?

[Alyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I loved this book. Max has such a creative way of getting his message across to his grandmother. It's funny how it makes so much sense in his head but to everyone else it's just gibberish.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious concept, but a little hard to follow in the beginning.

[Noah]

Fun book