Maxwell's Magic Mix-up

by Linda Ashman, Regan Dunnick

It's my sister's seventh birthday. Entertainer calls in sick. Poor Louise is brokenhearted. Better find a backup quick! When Maxwell the Magician entertains at Louise's birthday party, the birthday girl is turned into a rock, her father into a broom, and the guests into animals. It takes Max's young nephew, Alex, to save the day! Kids will laugh at the mixed-up magic and root for Alex to set things straight at this unforgettable birthday party.

Genres: Picture Books, Magic, Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2001

About the author

Linda Ashman is the author of more than 40 picture books and The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books . Her books have been included on the "best of the year" lists of the New York Times, IRA/CBC Children's Choices, the New York Public Library and others, and have been translated into many languages. Linda lives with her family in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, rhyming story about a little girl who has a magician at her birthday party. He does fabulous tricks, but he doesn’t know how to undo them! His nephew comes to the rescue and turns everything right again by the end of the book.
One of the most endearing parts of this book is the rhyming and meter that accompany it. The pictures are average, but the story is completely engaging. Wonderful for young children!

[Pamela Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book about a LOT of magical mixups! The birthday girl is turned into a rock, the dad into a broom, and many other funny happenings. The fact that it's a child who fixes the magic will have young children applauding!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, but I found myself bumbling over the rhyme in a bunch of places. I could read it correctly only after a few attempts. I think it's because a lot of the sentences start with verbs and leave the subjects out. That makes the reading awkward because your brain wants to put the subject in and then it hears the rhythm off.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the cadence of this book. It and some fun surprises that are sure to delight children.

[SBC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told in rhyme by the brother of the protagonist, Louise, the 7 year old birthday girl. Her entertainer is sick so they can only get Maxwell the Magician, who enters the door and turns Louise into a rock. The mother calls for him to fix her and he turns the boy, Joey, holding her into a bird. He lands in Katie's hair so Katie's screech for help gets her turned into a cat. When Dad calls to fix the two kids he turns dad into a broom who sweeps madly. Peter wants to be turned into something big so he turns him into a pig who eyes the birthday food. When mother cries to save the cake, he introduces a ten piece marching band. He calls his office and asks them to send Alex. Alex (Al) is a child who sorts out his uncle's messes. Calls to reverse it which turns everything back - but Louise. He orders time go backwards but this doesn't help. Alex says she's a tough one - Metamorphic, I suspect. Runs in circles and chants but doesn't help. Spills a soda on her which works. She is yawning and interested only in opening presents. Brother concludes would rather have a clown for his birthday. Just a silly little story for fun.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Older published book about things going seriously wrong at a birthday day party for m.c.'s sister when the entertainer doesn't show up and a magician is called with lots of mishaps. The neighbors love the show, the birthday girl is not as impressed. Fun read and illustrations are muted colors. Silly things happy that will have the students laughing at the results of the magician's tricks.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A magician at a birthday party turns all of the guests into strange things. The illustrations are cute but the rhythm of this story in rhyme felt off. I mentally rewrote in a few places to make the beats come out right.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. The story was about a magician that was hired for a birthday party. He clearly needed to work on his skills. The rhyming quality of the book was captivating for children, as were the illustrations. It wasn't, however, a book that stood out once I finished reading.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can read my review over at my blog: http://familybriefs.com/2007/08/10/bo...

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zany story about a bumbling magician whose expert nephew saves the day. 5 yr old loves this one. I am really picky about rhymes and this one works.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny rhyming book about a birthday party gone wrong.

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story about a birthday magician who isn't very good at what he does and ends up turning the guests into all sorts of animals and inanimate objects.

The illustrations are cute and fun.

[Greta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great rhyme. Funny story.