Max

by Bob Graham

A success story for anyone who knows the highs—and lows—of learning to do something for the first time. Max will fly away with your heart!

As the son of legendary superheroes Captain Lightning and Madam Thunderbolt, Max is destined to join their ranks - once he learns to
fly, that is. But despite his parents’ valiant coaching and encouragement
from his grandparents and friends, Max can’t seem to get off the ground.
Will he ever learn to leap over tall buildings in a single bound?
With quintessential quirkiness, award-winning author Bob Graham has created a mighty tale about the ups and downs of mastering your
potential - all in your own good time.

Genres: Picture Books, Superheroes, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Fantasy

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

An Australian children's author and illustrator. His books include Max, which won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Gold Award, Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child, which won the Kate Greenaway Medal, and "Let's Get A Pup!" Said Kate which won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award

Reviews

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's A Cracking little story. When you're the son of a family of superheroes there's always going to be plenty of family pressure to be super special. They learn from Max though that the most special thing is kindness. Beautifully illustrated.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little book about a boy born into a superhero family who can't fly yet. My 3 year old actually sat and listened to the whole things. She found lots of things in the pictures to look at and point out.

[Isobel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book on about a boy living kin a superhero family and trying to fly and manages to fly when rescuing an animal

[Josh Sonii · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a baby, but it was not a normal baby because it's parents where superheroes. Their names are Captain Lightning and Madam Thunderbolt. The superbaby was named Max and could already walk and talk. This made his parents think that he would fly in no time. His grandparents talked about how he would be a superhero as soon as he learned how to fly. They tried to teach him by throwing him in the air but he still could not fly he just floated back down to the ground. Even when Max grew older he still could not fly, but his parents had faith that he would fly in time. His dad tried to get him to try to fly by inviting him to come up to the ceiling to play with him and a parakeet. Max said no because he wanted to play with the dog. His grandpa began to talk about how he could fly when he was Max's age. When he went to school he was just an ordinary kids with a cape and mask. Kids began to ask him question about his powers and why he was not like his parents. Max did not know what to say when people asked him so he just shrugged. He woke up one morning and saw a bird about to fall form its nest. He ran downstairs so that he could save it from falling and getting injured. As the baby bird fell Max dove to save it and that is how he learned to fly. His family was proud of him and told him to be careful while he was up there. From that day forward Max flew everywhere he even hovered over his chair in class. Now that Max can fly will he be a great superhero or will he just be a ordinary boy that can fly?

This books gives kids a great message, which is that if you do not succeed try and try again. Max can not fly but he keeps trying even though he fails. His powers came in handy during a moment of need. He did not get mad when people asked him questions about his powers. He just shrugged it off and kept doing what he wanted to do. His grandpa was kind of unsupportive because all he did was talk about how he could fly when he was Max's age. I thought it was funny how Max is a superbaby, but he still does everything normal he just learned a few things a little bit quicker. Another thing that I thought was funny was the fact that their house is a giant lightning bolt. Usually superheroes try not to be discovered, but they are just out in the open. I am surprised that they do not have media at their house twenty four seven.

The illustrations in this book are very entertaining. I like how they put a bunch of pictures in separate boxes on certain pages because it reminds me of a comic book. The pictures where very detailed and had small things in the backgrounds like the parents on the cover of the newspaper. They also had a lot of trophies that they probably won for saving peoples life. I liked the very first illustration at the beginning of the book because they are flying next to a plane with their baby in a stroller. I just though it was kind of crazy because Max is just a little baby. That seems like a very dangerous thing to do with your child even if he is a superbaby. Overall this was a great story and teaches kids to never give up.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a twist on the late bloomer theme. Bob Graham is always worth reading, and some of his books are five star reads for many. Too bad the publisher made this oversize though, as it's hard to handle and shelve.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

July 2017 - all the superhero action that Ben's into, plus a really sweet story (and no action/violence, for people who care about that). Bob Graham is the best.

[H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book for work.
My favorite quote: “(...) a small hero doing quite deeds. The world needs more of those.”

[Bayezrue]

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[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max is a baby in a family of superheroes. His parents and grandparents are asking why he isn't flying yet? Eventually he does.

So, the movie Sky High may have been influenced by this. When I saw that movie, I kind of wanted the kid to have no super powers and for his parents to accept him that way, which is how I felt about this book. It was funny watching them deliberately put their underwear on over their tights.

[Fatima Seraj Alam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super relatable for parents who are anxious for their kids to take their first steps only in this instance the superhero parents cannot wait for little Max to fly. A poignant moment is when Max’s mother says he is a small hero doing quiet deeds : the world needs more of those. Very heartwarming.

[Stacy Natal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story of a boy born into a superhero family that takes awhile to find his wings.

[Lara Girgis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Day 4 of live storytime! A good book with a really sweet family dynamic.

[Freddie D · Rating 3 out of 5]

A baby superhero learns to fly.

[Nicoleta]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Xym...

[Kristal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book about a son of super hero parents that’s a late bloomer, but eventually finds his way.

[Matt Sheffield · Rating 3 out of 5]

#149 - 1001 Children's Books To Read Before You Grow Up

[Kelsie Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this book was super cute and taught everyone a good lesson about how it is ok to accomplish things at your own speed which is a great lesson relating to people's learning differences.

[Guy Popel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best children's book I've read, funny illustrations!

[Jennifer (JenIsNotaBookSnob) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't hate it, wasn't crazy about it. Suffers from somewhat dated looking illustrations. Basic premise is that this kid, Max, is in a superhero family but isn't flying yet. Family gets concerned and comments on this lack of flight. Max is finally ready to fly at the end of the book and the family is relieved though still not convinced he will be a superhero. There is a point where they acknowledge that he may be a small everyday sort of hero (illustrations of saving small animals). Almost any parent has gone through something like this, maybe your kid didn't talk early, or walk early or really hit any milestone early. My daughter has squeaked through milestones at the last moment pretty consistently. It sort of bugs me in the book that it seems like Max is aware that he is behind. No matter how frustrating it is that my daughter is still struggling with sight words she should know already, I can't really see myself pointing that out to her as a way to make her do better. She'll do better eventually with more practice, not necessarily more pressure. BUT, my 5 year old probably didn't even notice those things in the book. She just liked it. So, you know, it is a kid's book and that's probably the important part, appeal to the target audience not the weird adult outlier.

[Baylee Washburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The importance of illustrations is made clear in this book as many of the pictures convey significant story events that are not described in the text. Using ink and watercolor, the illustrator of Max compliments the author’s text with his illustrations but, also, adds to the story by depicting events that are not specifically described or included in the text. Furthermore, some of the pages of this book begin to resemble a comic strip as multiple scenes are illustrated on each page and, often, show a progression of time and events. Each separate scene is framed by a black line, and the reader must view and follow the “comic strip” of illustrations to fully understand the story and its many events.

[Cherina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summary: Max is born into a superhero family. Everyone is worried when it seems that Max lacks the ability to fly. One day, Max sees a baby bird fall from its nest. Max rushes to save the bird and ends up flying in order to rescue the animal. Everyone is happy and Max continues the family tradition of being a superhero.

Uses: independent reading for early readers, recommend to students who have an interest in superheros

Literary Devices: simile

Social issues: overcoming an inability, achieving a goal, helping others

Other: The book is a fictional picture book. It's just okay.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the son of legendary superheroes Captain Lightning and Madam Thunderbolt, Max is destined to join their ranks - once he learns to
fly, that is. But despite his parents’ valiant coaching and encouragement from his grandparents and friends, Max can’t seem to get off the ground. Will he ever learn to leap over tall buildings in a single bound? (Goodreads Summary)

Bob Graham's illustrations in a comic book manner and the use of panels in an easy GN arrangement are great. There are fun little details to notice. I enjoyed the grandparents in the book. Nice story of perseverance and succeeding at one's own pace. For preschoolers and early readers.

[Emmaline MacBeath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max is a baby born to a superhero family. He walks and talks early, but he cannot yet fly. His family worries over this, but eventually he does what all superhero babies do, and flies.
Although the illustrations are colorful and interesting, I found the layout to be very cluttered for a book written for very young children. I had to work hard to keep track of where my eyes should go next. The story was also too long and detailed in some parts. I think if the book had a more simple layout and story line I would have liked it much better.
Children will like the story concept of a super hero baby born to a super hero family, just like the baby in the movie Incredibles.

[Mathew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set out as part comic/picturebook, this is a lovely story for readers who are just taking-flight (pun intended). Although not outwardly stated, Max is under a lot of pressure to be a superhero like his family before him. He struggles to live up to those expectations but it is the loving and caring (no-pressure) attitude of his immediate family that finally allow him to be the person he wants to be. Lots of nice discussion here with Graham's lovely illustrations. It would make for a good Guided Read or independent read with the illustrations adding as much as the words do.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story begins with Max as a baby from a super hero family that grows into a super boy...only he can't fly. His parents and grandparents are concerned because Max should be flying. Even his normal friends at school are questioning his inability to fly. Will Max learn to fly in time to save a creature in need?

Cute story with amazingly detailed and action-filled illustrations.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superhero kid Max finally learns to fly when he forgets about himself and focuses on a baby bird in need of rescue. He doesn't "do tough things like [his] mom and dad." His mom says, "Let's call him a small hero, a small hero doing quiet deeds. The world needs more of those." Indeed! Couldn't agree more!

[Chris Calzolaio · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book is about a family of super heroes. The main plot focuses on a baby who seems to be developing faster than his peers, but he still has not learned to fly. His inability to fly has really worried his parents. One day, the baby finally flies when he is faced with the challenge of catching a baby bird that if falling from her nest.

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, this is such a sweet book. So, we're all totally in love with this adorable super-hero family (which includes grandma & grandpa). We love the way Max turns out, and how his family just absolutely love each other.

[Kyrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay story. I liked the illustrations a lot and loved their lightning bolt shaped house.
I'm not sure why it's on the list of 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up. There are lots of books I find equally entertaining.

[Emkoshka · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet little story of an ordinary boy growing up in a family of superheroes. When he does eventually come into his powers, he uses them to be 'a small hero doing quiet deeds'. As his mother says, 'The world needs more of those'. Great sentiment.