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The Adventures of Max the Minnow, 1st, First Edition
Like most little guys, Max wants to be a big fish too! Sorry Max. You're already a huge splash even smaller-in this wonderful Board Book adaptation of The Adventures of Max the Minnow.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1997
3 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
William Boniface
47 books32 followersWilliam Boniface may or may not exist. Ordinary Boy, after all, tells his own story. Mr. Boniface could simply be a creation of the publisher in order to fulfill the requirement that an author be listed on the cover of this book. Given that possibility, there is no harm in revealing that Mr. Boniface has lent his name to over two dozen far less wordy children's books that were also in need of an author. Unless, of course, he didn't, which would make this entire biography irrelevent.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 1, 2017
As a child, I adored this book. I loved the aquatic setting and the unique art style used therein, and I would spend a lot of time just looking at the pictures.
As I grew older, I remembered the illustrations and the silly, googly eyes of the book, so I revisited it (properly, this time).
In the struggle to fit where you think you or others would like you to be, you'll inevitably fail. It's only when you make steps to improve yourself, rather than force yourself to fit the mold someone else has established, that you'll truly find your 'place'. Using food as the vehicle in which Max could 'achieve' his projected goals, children can see a visual of the ramifications that occur when you force yourself to fit (Max got fat, unhealthy, and there were consequences).
I would definitely recommend this book!
As I grew older, I remembered the illustrations and the silly, googly eyes of the book, so I revisited it (properly, this time).
In the struggle to fit where you think you or others would like you to be, you'll inevitably fail. It's only when you make steps to improve yourself, rather than force yourself to fit the mold someone else has established, that you'll truly find your 'place'. Using food as the vehicle in which Max could 'achieve' his projected goals, children can see a visual of the ramifications that occur when you force yourself to fit (Max got fat, unhealthy, and there were consequences).
I would definitely recommend this book!
February 24, 2017
Going back to the Little Free Library. This book includes fat-shaming, being laughed at with no reproof, and a nebulous moral.
July 15, 2024
So many of these reviews miss the point of the story entirely. This book has nothing to do with fat-shaming.
Max sees other fish having "all the fun" and presumes he needs to be exactly like them. He goes on a journey to achieve this goal. The first person he asks gives him the sage advice to take joy in being who he already is. Max ignores this advice, convinced that becoming like the other fish he saw will bring him happiness. He decides to achieve becoming a "big fish" through eating. He is committed to his goal, even though it's detrimental to his health.
He is bullied, but continues on. He ends up in a situation where, rather than becoming a "big fish that has all the fun," he's now a tasty target for predators. He escapes and realizes that becoming something he thinks he wants to be at the expense of his health was stopping him from appreciating his body and his potential.
This book encourages readers to not get hung up on comparing themselves to others, to not go after things we think will make us happy at the expense of a healthy life (both physically & mentally), and that it's not too late to make positive changes even when we've made mistakes.
The writing is lyrical and fun for all ages. The illustrations are fun and engaging.
Max sees other fish having "all the fun" and presumes he needs to be exactly like them. He goes on a journey to achieve this goal. The first person he asks gives him the sage advice to take joy in being who he already is. Max ignores this advice, convinced that becoming like the other fish he saw will bring him happiness. He decides to achieve becoming a "big fish" through eating. He is committed to his goal, even though it's detrimental to his health.
He is bullied, but continues on. He ends up in a situation where, rather than becoming a "big fish that has all the fun," he's now a tasty target for predators. He escapes and realizes that becoming something he thinks he wants to be at the expense of his health was stopping him from appreciating his body and his potential.
This book encourages readers to not get hung up on comparing themselves to others, to not go after things we think will make us happy at the expense of a healthy life (both physically & mentally), and that it's not too late to make positive changes even when we've made mistakes.
The writing is lyrical and fun for all ages. The illustrations are fun and engaging.
December 30, 2020
The finger holes for the eyes are cool. Though not really anything to do with the book. I put it in the basement so I wouldn't have to read it again.
*sassy spoiler overview*
Basically, Max feels left out, so he develops an eating disorder, then goes to a restaurant owned by sharks and thus almost dies, partly because he is now fat. Then the ending is some weird way of saying to love yourself the way you are, in a pseudo-Black/ jazz? dialect. Oh, and brains are more important than size, even if you haven't really shown much evidence of genius brains throughout the book.
*sassy spoiler overview*
Basically, Max feels left out, so he develops an eating disorder, then goes to a restaurant owned by sharks and thus almost dies, partly because he is now fat. Then the ending is some weird way of saying to love yourself the way you are, in a pseudo-Black/ jazz? dialect. Oh, and brains are more important than size, even if you haven't really shown much evidence of genius brains throughout the book.
November 4, 2020
This book teaches the importance of valuing oneself. In the book we see that a small fish sets out to become the biggest fish of all only to realize that he isn’t. That is when he learns to appreciate himself. I would use this book for kindergarten/ 1st grade. The book has cool illustrations and googley eyes that are moveable and even pop-out.
July 20, 2021
As other reviewers have noted, this book is fatphobic and ends with Max magically losing the weight without any struggle or tradeoffs at all. The eyes are very engaging to young readers, but in my experience don't really build any interest in the story or process of reading.
September 28, 2018
My thirteen month old was fascinated by the eyes.
September 16, 2021
Terrifying but the 10 month old at work absolutely loves it and makes me read it several times a day. Thanks, I hate it!
October 29, 2023
One of my favorite books as a kid. My dad even brought it to my school to read it to the whole class because I wanted everyone to love it too.
April 9, 2025
Max wants to be the biggest fish. His crazy adventure helps him learn to appreciate himself.
October 28, 2014
The Adventures of Max the Minnow by William Boniface is such a good book to read to kids of all ages! Just looking at the title can be very engaging to a lot of kids. The title portrays tiny Max the minnow in front of a huge fish with enormous eyeballs that pop out of the book. Just wiggling the book makes the eyes shake. As I flipped through the pages, the giant 3D eyes transferred from one page to the other, giving another character big eyes. The test is blended in with the ocean scenery. If you read the book aloud, the text has a sing-song as you read along. The text is no bigger than a stanza and resembles a lot like modern poetry.
The plot of the story is about a minnow named Max who wishes he could be big like the larger fish in the sea. He goes in this crazy adventure encountering creatures like turtles, octopi, and sharks. He tries to bulk up and gain weight to try and be like the other bigger fish. A moral that Boniface put in his book was the saying that you are what you are. You can't change what you were born to be. Small fish were made small. They were born that way. William Boniface is just trying to say that some features, especially on our bodies, are some things that we can't help and can't change. He teaches the important lesson to love yourself no matter what size you are or what color your skin might be.
I really enjoyed this book personally as a kid. Reading this book now made me feel like I was a kid again. William Boniface makes reading fun for early and intermediate readers who are adventurous and love a good laugh. The brief test of the pages give kids an insight to under what's happening in the story rather than read and find out. His colorful images and big googley 3D eyes catch a child's attention to the story. The book is easy to read and such a joy to read over and over again.
The plot of the story is about a minnow named Max who wishes he could be big like the larger fish in the sea. He goes in this crazy adventure encountering creatures like turtles, octopi, and sharks. He tries to bulk up and gain weight to try and be like the other bigger fish. A moral that Boniface put in his book was the saying that you are what you are. You can't change what you were born to be. Small fish were made small. They were born that way. William Boniface is just trying to say that some features, especially on our bodies, are some things that we can't help and can't change. He teaches the important lesson to love yourself no matter what size you are or what color your skin might be.
I really enjoyed this book personally as a kid. Reading this book now made me feel like I was a kid again. William Boniface makes reading fun for early and intermediate readers who are adventurous and love a good laugh. The brief test of the pages give kids an insight to under what's happening in the story rather than read and find out. His colorful images and big googley 3D eyes catch a child's attention to the story. The book is easy to read and such a joy to read over and over again.
September 8, 2008
I'm not sure my son understands all that is going on here. But, he loves the rhythm of this story, it's aquatic setting and, of course, the eyeballs popping from the book. For me, the moral to groove on your own self instead of trying to be like others, as well as a hat tipped to fitness, is good. recommended. We will be checking this out from the library again.
January 9, 2012
After reading lots of books to my toddler many times over, I find the ones that are my favorites that I don't mind reading. This book is one of those. I love the rhyme of the book along with the incredible illustrations. My son loves to wiggle the book around to watch the eyes jiggle. It is a fun book for both of us. We bought it at the Memphis Zoo.
April 21, 2012
My kids really love all these books! The google eyes (they're 3D and move about) are appealing. The story rhymes and has colorful illustrations. From a parent perspective, I love the little moral lesson that is being told as well as the realistic glossary at the end regarding all the fish mentioned in the story and a little bit about them. Educational and entertaining! Perfect!
Read
December 6, 2013Max the Minnow wanted to be a big fish. He asked his friends, saw how the blowfish puffed up and tried to overeat his way to becoming bigger. Max narrowly escapes being eaten by a shark and realizes that brains means more than bulk. This is a cute board book with googlie eyes, rhyming text, bright colored pictures and a nice message about being happy with yourself.
August 24, 2013
My oldest child's new favorite book, I have read it over and over and over and over and.... So, I'm pleased to say that this little story is one real underwater adventure with true staying power. And including the glossary of underwater creatures at the end is fantastic!
January 4, 2014
The eyes were a main attraction with this book. The kids were entranced. The story was poor, and the illustrations were kind of lame. So I suppose I don't recommend this book, because googly eyes alone do not a book make.
January 28, 2008
Brad brought this home from a bussiness trip for Connor---and he LOVED it! It is a darling story and teaches a gret lesson about doing the best you can with what you got!!
April 3, 2008
A great friend gave this to Max for his first birthday. The story is cute, and Max loves the rolly eyes.
Read
January 23, 2010I read this with both my children.
February 1, 2010
This book is really appealing to younger kids because it has 2 giant eyes that stick out of the book! A fun read!
May 26, 2011
Max the minnow is soooo awsom!every body should read it.
March 14, 2012
This book is great! The google eyes are so cute! A wonderful story about being yourself!
June 3, 2012
I found this to be kind of creepy, but very captivating.
September 29, 2013
Ill-scanning verse and a fat-phobic moral.
April 1, 2014
Aww trying to keep kids healthy!
February 25, 2016
My son loves the wiggly eyes!!!
August 5, 2016
It was about a minnow named max and hid under coral all day long watching the other big fish.
April 17, 2017
Cute story, good moral. M (3) loves the moving eyes.
February 5, 2025
Our favorite children’s book! I have it memorized and give it as a gift at every baby shower I am able to.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews