Maxwell's Mountain

by Shari Becker, Nicole Wong (Illustrator)

When he spies the BIG hill—make that a mountain!—in his neighborhood park, Maxwell is determined to climb all the way to the top. He has everything a true outdoorsman needs: climbing gear, a map, a first-aid kit, water, snacks, and his trusty toy soldier, Harry, by his side. But when Maxwell loses the trail, he must rely on his smarts to get back on track.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Shari Becker was born in Montreal, Quebec, and was raised speaking both English and French. As a child, she spent her summers in the Adirondack Mountains catching fireflies, minnows, and toads. She has an MA from New York University and has worked for Nickelodeon, for Disney-owned companies, and even for an Emmy Award–winning puppeteer. She is the author of two picture books, including Maxwell’s Mountain, a Junior Library Guild Selection and Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book. She now lives in Brookline, Massachusetts, with her husband, their two daughters, and their dog. She loves lakes, but despises the bridges that run over them.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Maxwell's point of view the hill just beyond the playground is a mountain that is just waiting to be climbed. His parent's tell him he is too young to climb mountains, so Maxwell goes on a training regime to prove that he is ready. The things he comes up with to train and prepare are adorable and so childlike. The pictures are well done and have fun details upon closer inspection. It has a good pace when read out loud.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a good book to read. At first when you read the title, you wonder what the book might be about. As you start to read it more and more, it's about a little boy trying to prove to his parents that he can do something and that he knows how to prepare for it. Also, it talks about perseverance. This is a good book to read to students.

[Kalynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maxwell is determined to climb the mountain near his local park. When his parent's don't think it sounds like a good idea, he proves he is ready through research, training, and preparation. Finally the day arrives. I enjoyed the process and growth-mindset aspect of the book, but never fully understood the army figure feature. It had a Calvin and Hobbs feel, but not fully.

[Amanda Walz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun book about tackling a challenge.

[Kristin Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun book for children in 2nd through 4th grade. It talks about you need to prepare yourself before you go on an adventure and take the advice you are given from the adults in your life.
I would use this in my classroom when we talk about following directions and going on adventures. It would be fun for the children to have this be a read aloud story and then give the children a map of the play ground and have them make their own journey on the map and then go outside and have them follow their maps and see where they lead. It would also be good if the teacher looked over the students journey and give them advice and then watch them while they are outside following their map and see if they take the advice they are given.
I also think this would be fun to give the students a map that has places that they can't go too and see if they would follow the teachers direction and get help or if they would try to do it themselves.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the outdoors and hiking. This books is great!

The pictures are good the story is great and the lessons about hiking, planning, reading a map, being smart etc is priceless! He is just climbing the tall mountain at his local park, but the tips and planning would be perfect for a more strenuous hike.

My brothers have taken scout troops backpacking into the mountains and he only has 1 rule. Don't end up on the news. With planning being smart using a map and compass (or these days GPS) not freaking out if you get lost, first aid knowledge you can overcome most obstacles that could happening while hiking!

Just a great beginning hiker book! So many lessons to learn here!

I love his toy soldier Harry who helps me out, just all around fun one!!


Nicely done!

[Larissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shari Becker - Nicole Wong - Charlesbridge - 2006 Ages 8+ Maxwell's Mountain is a very fun, intriguing, journey in which entails a journey through Max. Max decides one day that he wanted to climb to the top of the mountain, but his parents warn him and tell him that he isn't properly trained. So, in turn this leads him to go and try to train more so that he is able to accomplish his goal, climbing up the mountain. Max does in turn end up getting up to the top of the mountain at the end of the story which is a relieving feeling, which is in turn why I really enjoy this book. I also like this book because I am able to relate to this because I have been on many journey's and I love to go hiking to the see the view from the top because it is so worthwhile when you reach the top.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book about a little boy who wants to climb a hill. His parents say that he's too young to do it, but he researches what he needs to do to prepare for such a momentous hike. I love he goes to the library to do his research and that his parents encourage him to follow his dream. The story is entertaining and the illustrations are colorful. I read this while visiting our girls' elementary school library and then our oldest decided to borrow the book. We read it together during her class reading time and we both liked it.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo is at a transitional age between wanting to be a big boy and do big boy things and still wanting the comfort of being a little kid. He enjoyed this book of a boy that wants to climb the hill by himself next to the park. I noticed the next time we went to the park, he and a friend did exactly that.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biracial

This was a good story about perseverance. Maxwell sees a hill of rocks at a new playground and wants to climb it. His parents say that he is too little, so he sets out to prove them wrong.

The only way a reader can tell this story is biracial is from the illustrations. One parent is Asian and the other white.

[Janae · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) I probably wouldn't return to this book unless it was to illustrate goal-setting to my child. For that purpose it's great. Maxwell wants to climb a really difficult "mountain" at the local park. He makes the goal, practices and trains, tries (runs into trouble and has to try a new way) and finally succeeds. My son was very interested in the plot.

[Jessalyn King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went back to this book on the shelf because the title intrigued me... and I'm glad I did. A great book for inspiration to just get things done. Love the parenting. Also loved the little soldier toy.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soren said he LOVED this book. I liked that this little boy set his mind to a difficult task, used all of the resources he could, trained hard, and finally accomplished.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is all about perseverance and I think it helps kids with responsibility as well. Cute book. My boys especially liked it.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot here for adventurous kids and their parents to relate to. Will appeal to a decently wide age range of toddlers and preschoolers. Plus I like this character.