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Big Max
Big Max: An Illustrated Detective Mystery for Children (Ages 4-8) about the King's Missing Elephant
"The world's greatest detective" follows the clues that lead to the King of Pooka Pooka's missing prize elephant. "The character of Big Max, a kind of miniature Sherlock Holmes, is well drawn in both words and pictures." —SLJ.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
12 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Kin Platt
66 books10 followersPseudonyms: Kirby Carr, Guy West, Alan West, Guy York & Wesley Simon York
Kin Platt (1911–2003) was the author of the perennially popular I Can Read Book Big Max, as well as several outstanding young-adult novels and the Max Roper mystery series for adults. Mr. Platt was also a noted cartoonist.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin_Platt
Kin Platt (1911–2003) was the author of the perennially popular I Can Read Book Big Max, as well as several outstanding young-adult novels and the Max Roper mystery series for adults. Mr. Platt was also a noted cartoonist.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin_Platt
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
September 7, 2018
This was a really fun read! Delightful and memorable characters with a mystery to solve makes this a great choice for your beginning reader!
Ages: 4 - 8
Reading Level: K - 3rd
Cleanliness: mentions a man's pipe.
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Ages: 4 - 8
Reading Level: K - 3rd
Cleanliness: mentions a man's pipe.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
November 21, 2021
Storytime with auntie. The kiddos told me everything that was about to happen. 😆 They know this story well. My favorite thing about it was getting to say "the king of Pooka Pooka" repeatedly. 😄
February 25, 2010
Reason for Reading: My son read the book to me as his reader.
Comments: The King of Pooka Pooka calls in Big Max to find his missing elephant, Jumbo, who was kept in a locked courtyard with no possible way out. Big Max, who travels by umbrella, takes the case and follows the clues to solve the mystery and find the beloved Jumbo, as today is his birthday. Big Max is an adorable character! Very helpful and clever in following the trail of clues, not letting a false clue steer him wrong for long. My son really enjoyed this book! He found the mystery aspect exciting and tried to guess what was happening ahead of Big Max. He also thought the story was very funny and we had some laugh out loud moments. A huge success as it had ds wanting to read more than was required of him at almost every sitting! Robert Lopshire's illustrations are priceless and Big Max is a comical pastiche of the old-time detective with his deer stalker Sherlock Holmes outfit, hat pulled down so low that his magnifying glass seems to be his only sight and his diminutive size challenges him to live up to his name, Big Max. A well-written story, with plot that is sure to please young readers. This is still in publication and is now being published as a Level 2 reading level in the current series.
Comments: The King of Pooka Pooka calls in Big Max to find his missing elephant, Jumbo, who was kept in a locked courtyard with no possible way out. Big Max, who travels by umbrella, takes the case and follows the clues to solve the mystery and find the beloved Jumbo, as today is his birthday. Big Max is an adorable character! Very helpful and clever in following the trail of clues, not letting a false clue steer him wrong for long. My son really enjoyed this book! He found the mystery aspect exciting and tried to guess what was happening ahead of Big Max. He also thought the story was very funny and we had some laugh out loud moments. A huge success as it had ds wanting to read more than was required of him at almost every sitting! Robert Lopshire's illustrations are priceless and Big Max is a comical pastiche of the old-time detective with his deer stalker Sherlock Holmes outfit, hat pulled down so low that his magnifying glass seems to be his only sight and his diminutive size challenges him to live up to his name, Big Max. A well-written story, with plot that is sure to please young readers. This is still in publication and is now being published as a Level 2 reading level in the current series.
November 7, 2013
I didn't remember this book until I started reading it to my daughters. And the memories were slow to come back, but I enjoyed it just as much this time around as I did when I was younger. My girls (9 & almost 11) also enjoyed it. Of course when I read it, Big Max sounds more like a chinese karate instructor than a detective. lol.
Charming little story about a missing elephant and the detective who travels 'by umbrella' that finds him. There are clues along the way, so that you can figure it out on your own with Big Max or wait until he tells what happened. The picture are super cute too!
Charming little story about a missing elephant and the detective who travels 'by umbrella' that finds him. There are clues along the way, so that you can figure it out on your own with Big Max or wait until he tells what happened. The picture are super cute too!
April 30, 2008
This was probably the first mystery book I ever read. When I was in elementary school, I dressed up as Big Max for a literature parade.
June 5, 2008
My favorite children's book of all time!!
Where has Jumbo gone??
Just thinking of it makes me want pink cake. And some rubies.
Where has Jumbo gone??
Just thinking of it makes me want pink cake. And some rubies.
March 15, 2024
Not for the first time in fiction, here's the reader's opportunity to meet "The World's Greatest Detective."
This time the mystery involve finding the King of Pooka Pooka's missing prize elephant, Jumbo.
Pretty ambitious mission, for a Level 2 reader! (That means aiming for Readers in Grades 1-3.)
Illustrations of the detective and the king are absolutely adorb. The most exciting part, for me, was when the perceptive detective, tracking the elephant, found tears that Jumbo had shed.
To me, that one-up's Sherlock Holmes. Goodreaders, when's the last time that somebody found any of YOUR leftover tears?
FIVE STARS for this rollicking read.
This time the mystery involve finding the King of Pooka Pooka's missing prize elephant, Jumbo.
Pretty ambitious mission, for a Level 2 reader! (That means aiming for Readers in Grades 1-3.)
Illustrations of the detective and the king are absolutely adorb. The most exciting part, for me, was when the perceptive detective, tracking the elephant, found tears that Jumbo had shed.
To me, that one-up's Sherlock Holmes. Goodreaders, when's the last time that somebody found any of YOUR leftover tears?
FIVE STARS for this rollicking read.
December 23, 2023
I enjoyed the archived copy on openlibrary.org
Ok currently reading, loving the art (longtime fan of Robert Lopshire. But it's a fallacy that birds can't smell!
So, anyway, Max travels by umbrella. The King says, "... a great way to travel!"
Max says, "It got me here." Love that deadpan laconicism.
A delightful, though very short, book. I will consider more by Kin Platt.
Ok currently reading, loving the art (longtime fan of Robert Lopshire. But it's a fallacy that birds can't smell!
So, anyway, Max travels by umbrella. The King says, "... a great way to travel!"
Max says, "It got me here." Love that deadpan laconicism.
A delightful, though very short, book. I will consider more by Kin Platt.
December 26, 2017
I read this book over and over as a child, and for nostalgia I tracked down a copy of the old hardback and gave it to my toddler. It's still a delightful story, though longer than I remember; good for a beginning reader. My little one needed two story times to get the whole story, as he got too fidgety to finish the book in one go. Will be a great book as he grows up and transitions to reading it for himself.
February 4, 2025
I thought this book was really cute. I really love the artwork.
I think it’s funny that big Max is really really short. I love that he travels by umbrella like Mary Poppins.
I love the stress on knowing how the elephant went somewhere, where the elephant went, and why the elephant went there.
I also love the stress on we will see. Because the detective doesn’t assume things, but tries to to deduce them.
I think it’s funny that big Max is really really short. I love that he travels by umbrella like Mary Poppins.
I love the stress on knowing how the elephant went somewhere, where the elephant went, and why the elephant went there.
I also love the stress on we will see. Because the detective doesn’t assume things, but tries to to deduce them.
December 18, 2018
He is The World's Greatest Detective, a nice read. It was quite entertaining observing his detective methods, seeing how his analysis skills would lead him to that suspenseful climax. Such bizarre conclusions he'd make and leave the others in the water gasping. What will his sniffer approach him next?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2019
Big Max, the world's greatest detective is called by the king of Pooka Pooka to find the king's stolen elephant Jumbo. Using the clues of Who, Where, and Why, Big Max concludes that Jumbo wasn't stolen, and continues searching until he locates Jumbo, and solves the mystery.
November 16, 2020
Big Max is asked to find the missing elephant. He goes off and flies around with his umbrella. He goes to Pooka Pooka to go around the island and find the elephant. He keeps following clues all the way and finds Jumbo the elephant.
February 20, 2024
Interesting, yet jumbled book about a great detective, Big Max, who flies around with an umbrella solving mysteries. In this one, he is asked by the King of Pooka Pooka to find his beloved elephant. My rating - 3/5
May 29, 2018
3 3/4 stars
February 14, 2019
Perfect book for beginning readers. Lots of small words and the pictures help with the words
June 25, 2019
My 2 year old loves this story.
April 9, 2020
A good book for children. I have read it many times. I always liked this story. Introduces in a simple manner the "mystery" genre to young readers
April 1, 2021
My 8 yo and I read this together for Reading practice. He enjoyed it.
October 29, 2021
Cute and entertaining. I loved the illustrations.
June 7, 2022
It is a very fun kids book and a favorite memory of mine learning to read one of my dad's childhood books. We have a hardback from when he was little and it's very neat.
January 27, 2024
I was good but it was a solved mystery too fast
July 3, 2024
Nani’s copy from childhood- a Bridgman bedtime classic 👏
September 28, 2025
Great book to introduce young kids to mysteries with clues age appropriate which gives them the opportunity to solve.
April 10, 2019
The best one in the series! One I remember reading when I was little.
April 24, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction: mystery
Reading level: Grades 2-4
I thought this was a very good book!! Big max proved himself to be the best detective in the end. Overall I think this books helps kids imagination, it shows talking animals and people flying with umbrellas. So I recommend this book for children to read. I think it would be better for the children to read this book by themselves to, so that way their imagination can go where they want it to go!!
Reading level: Grades 2-4
I thought this was a very good book!! Big max proved himself to be the best detective in the end. Overall I think this books helps kids imagination, it shows talking animals and people flying with umbrellas. So I recommend this book for children to read. I think it would be better for the children to read this book by themselves to, so that way their imagination can go where they want it to go!!
January 8, 2015
This book is full of adventure and a great beginner reader for children up to 2nd grade. I grew up reading this book. The King of Pooka Pooka and Big Max are in my heart forever. I always asked to have this book read and it was the first English children's book I translated into French so that the French world could enjoy Kin Platt's comical little detective soar in his umbrella.
However, from a bibliographic perspective the book had challenging words and key phonetics as well as great onomatopoeic responses that are great for stimulating neonatal reading growth and I also used this text in my child psychology course in college as well to see what gets a kid to read better. It is simply the perfect children's book and it never grows old, Platt uses a literary paintbrush to produce a great story of the ages. A classic English children's story and Irish, British, and American youngsters grew up seeing Jumbo and his family eat cake with Big Max!
A tour de force and a joy to read, I want this book on the shelf for my great-grandkids one day and hopefully I can publish a French version one day after I graduate. Thank you so much, Kin Platt for making my heart glow with this great story and thank you Mr. Charles F. Mintz for inspiring little Max and being a great detective, which was my career choice before deciding on education.
However, from a bibliographic perspective the book had challenging words and key phonetics as well as great onomatopoeic responses that are great for stimulating neonatal reading growth and I also used this text in my child psychology course in college as well to see what gets a kid to read better. It is simply the perfect children's book and it never grows old, Platt uses a literary paintbrush to produce a great story of the ages. A classic English children's story and Irish, British, and American youngsters grew up seeing Jumbo and his family eat cake with Big Max!
A tour de force and a joy to read, I want this book on the shelf for my great-grandkids one day and hopefully I can publish a French version one day after I graduate. Thank you so much, Kin Platt for making my heart glow with this great story and thank you Mr. Charles F. Mintz for inspiring little Max and being a great detective, which was my career choice before deciding on education.
October 20, 2019
I loved reading this book when I was little, and it is so good to have my children read it to me. I love the cycles our reading takes us on and the memories good books help to bring back.
My son best loved that Max travels by umbrella like Mary Poppins does. It was fun trying to figure out the mystery of the missing elephant.
I love how children learn what crocodile tears are and that just because a person is sad doesn't mean that they understand the wrong they have done and are truly sorry.
I also love how we learn how much elephants love being together - especially on birthdays. I love that my family likes to get together for birthdays as well.
I love how Big Max is not quick to jump to conclusions and is very persistent in his efforts.
** Talking Points - How does your family celebrate birthdays? What was your favorite birthday and why? Jumbo found a way to go to his birthday party. What are some other ways he could have solved his problem? Tell me about some problems that you have solved in your life. Who in your circle of family in friends do you feel is the most persistent in accomplishing their goals?
** Essential Oil Pairing Tip - Need to boost your thinking power? Roll on some of doTERRA's Thinker essential oil blend made especially for children.
My son best loved that Max travels by umbrella like Mary Poppins does. It was fun trying to figure out the mystery of the missing elephant.
I love how children learn what crocodile tears are and that just because a person is sad doesn't mean that they understand the wrong they have done and are truly sorry.
I also love how we learn how much elephants love being together - especially on birthdays. I love that my family likes to get together for birthdays as well.
I love how Big Max is not quick to jump to conclusions and is very persistent in his efforts.
** Talking Points - How does your family celebrate birthdays? What was your favorite birthday and why? Jumbo found a way to go to his birthday party. What are some other ways he could have solved his problem? Tell me about some problems that you have solved in your life. Who in your circle of family in friends do you feel is the most persistent in accomplishing their goals?
** Essential Oil Pairing Tip - Need to boost your thinking power? Roll on some of doTERRA's Thinker essential oil blend made especially for children.
February 5, 2013
On a recent trip to our local library, we picked up this book, along with the next book in the series, Big Max and the Mystery of the Missing Giraffe, both by Kin Platt. While the books are a bit young for our girls, we thought the covers looked interesting and we are always looking for fun mysteries.
This is a silly mystery for young readers. It strongly reminded me of a Nate the Great story, but it was even more bizarre and unrealistic. Still, it was an entertaining tale and our girls loved the challenge of solving the mystery before Max did. The illustrations are very colorful and the story is fun to read aloud. We enjoyed reading this book together.
This is a silly mystery for young readers. It strongly reminded me of a Nate the Great story, but it was even more bizarre and unrealistic. Still, it was an entertaining tale and our girls loved the challenge of solving the mystery before Max did. The illustrations are very colorful and the story is fun to read aloud. We enjoyed reading this book together.
October 22, 2012
Harper Collins Publishers KIN PLATT
Time: 10/19=18min
7-word-summary:
detective-umbrella-elephant-birds-clue-ice-birthday
-Discussion question-
Q1: Have you ever flied with your umbrella?
A1: Maybe yes. Though it was a dream perhaps, when I was a child, I liked typhoon, and I played with an umbrella in the typhoon. Then I was flied for two or three seconds. I remember I was very very happy.
Q2: Have you ever read a riddle like the detective?
A2: Yes, I have. When I was a high school students, one my friend was facing some problems. They were like puzzle. However, I and other two friends traced them in various way, and we solved them.
I really liked this book. It is a picture book, but I think even adults can enjoy reading this book. I recommend it!
Time: 10/19=18min
7-word-summary:
detective-umbrella-elephant-birds-clue-ice-birthday
-Discussion question-
Q1: Have you ever flied with your umbrella?
A1: Maybe yes. Though it was a dream perhaps, when I was a child, I liked typhoon, and I played with an umbrella in the typhoon. Then I was flied for two or three seconds. I remember I was very very happy.
Q2: Have you ever read a riddle like the detective?
A2: Yes, I have. When I was a high school students, one my friend was facing some problems. They were like puzzle. However, I and other two friends traced them in various way, and we solved them.
I really liked this book. It is a picture book, but I think even adults can enjoy reading this book. I recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews