Ruby's Falling Leaves

Max and Ruby

by Rosemary Wells

Its fall, and Ruby is making a leaf-collection book for school. Ruby is certain that after she finds her last three leaves shell have the best book in the whole class! As Ruby works on her project, Max has some fun of his own by creating a giant leaf pile. At first Ruby thinks Max is trying to help her, but Ruby soon realizes that Maxs leaves arent for collectingtheyre for jumping in!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

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

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Max and Ruby, but I'm assuming Rosemary Wells didn't have a lot of involvement with this adaptation of an episode of the animated series. I enjoy the show, but the voices, music, and motion are what make it so cute. This book version is just flat and bland, and the original episode isn't one of the stand-outs from the series either.

It doesn't help that this story is one of the more formulaic ones from the show, where Ruby is trying to accomplish something, and it seems Max is always interfering, but in the end he saves the day just when it seems Ruby will fail. In this one specifically, she is assembling a complete album of leaves from different tree species in the neighborhood while Max is moving all the fallen leaves around chaotically.


FOR REFERENCE:

Adaptation of the "Ruby's Leaf Collection" segment from Season 1, Episode 5, of the "Max & Ruby" television series, directed by Jamie Whitney and written by Kate Barris, originally aired June 14, 2002, in Canada, and October 31, 2003, in the USA.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has the rabbits from "Max & Ruby;" I recognized them from that context even though I never watched the show. I don't think I'll bother reading this or any other Max & Ruby books in the future. It wasn't completely terrible, but each moment of tension was simply resolved immediately on the next page (Max keeps misplacing the leaves Ruby is collecting for a school assignment) and so there wasn't really even a lesson to be learned. I'm not sure my son even realized there was tension because it got resolved so quickly. Maybe these stories come across better on TV.

[White House Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good autumn story for kids. It teaches kids about the different types of leaves as Ruby tries to complete her leaf book by hunting for the leaves in her backyard with help from Max. It names 4 different leaves and shows what each looks like. This story can encourage kids to make their own leaf booklet by collecting the leaves that are found in their own backyards!

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruby is collection leaves for her school project with the help (or hindrance) of little brother Max. Fine for a read aloud during fall and a chance to learn to identify different leaves, but not something I’d go back to read over and over.

[Shanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

These two characters remind me of me and my little brother. A lighthearted romp to be sure, and probably one of the only books where a 3 year old is going to learn the names of different tree-leaves.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Max and Ruby book wasn't very hyper like some of them are. So it was an enjoyable read and the wording is simple that a beginning reader could read it with help. Many repetitive words. Max helps his sister find all the leaves she needs for her book.

[Tam · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 4-year-old loves Max and Ruby.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max and Ruby is a good early reader, but...it insults my intelligent :-s .... but I do like the fall aspect! I love leaves and collecting leaves so this was fun! Fun with leaves.