Bunny Party

Max and Ruby

by Rosemary Wells

It's Grandma's birthday and Max and Ruby are having a party for her. Ruby has invited seven stuffed-toy guests she's sure Grandma will like. Max wants to invite his Jellyball Shooter Spider, his Ear-Splitter Space Cadet and his Can't-Sit-Up Slug, but Ruby says no. Yet each time Ruby counts the number of guests at the table, another one has mysteriously appeared. Is Ruby having a bad counting day? Or is someone making a few changes to the guest list?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Counting, Animals, Fiction, Family, Mathematics

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

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

[Olivia S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Parts of this story are hilarious, like Max's favourite toys - especially the can't-sit-up-slug. Overall, the concept gets a bit too complicated, though, and isn't worth it for the ending. Could have been done better.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Features all of Max's wonderful toys and his mischievous ways. Great for preschoolers and their older siblings.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max and Ruby prepare to celebrate Grandma's birthday party. Ruby has sent out invitations, but only has enough chairs for her stuffed animals. Max wants to invite some of his toys, so he keeps adding chairs to the table, and Ruby thinks she is having a bad counting day.

[Karrington Stevens]

Ruby throws a party for her Grandma with Max.Ruby decides to pick all the stuffed friends invited to the party, but Max has his own idea. He sneaks and changes out some of her friends for his own stuffed friends, and by the end of the story- they have a pretty fun party celebrating Grandma

[Emi えみ Takami 鷹見 · Rating 2 out of 5]

the kids really like Max and Ruby, but Ruby tends to be bossy and overlook Max's ideas or needs. And I don't see how Ruby missed all these "guests" that Max created at the table. I know, it's a kids book, it's not that serious, but I think Ruby needs some bifocals...

[Haaley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Max and Ruby.
Ruby is helpful- but definitely the bossy older sister. Max just does what he wants like any little brother.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ruby plans a birthday party for Grandma, and Max's guest list (of toys) isn't included- he sneaks them in while Ruby is busy with prep. Of course, Grandma arrives and keeps everybody happy.

[K Morlando · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most requested book

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruby throws a birthday party for Grandma and invites her dolls, but Max finds a way for his favorite toys to attend as well.

Ruby declined to invite Max’s three favorite toys to her party, but Max’s single-minded resourcefulness secures them seats at the table after all.

This book teaches counting up 1-to-10.

[Marry H · Rating 5 out of 5]

C

[Joanna Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

K-2nd grade. Popular characters Max and Ruby, rabbit siblings, prepare for their grandmother's birthday party. Ruby has invited all her stuffed animals, but Max wants his at the party as well. As Max sneaks his stuffed animals into the party, Ruby wonders if she is having a bad counting day or if the guest list really is mysteriously increasing. The cute story teaches children counting skills while also depicting a mischief that is amusing and harmless, ideal for young mischievous humans. The illustrations are bright and inviting, sure to delight children. This book would make an excellent addition to a public library or elementary school's youth collection.

[jacky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this Max and Ruby book. This one is has also been turned into an episode on the TV show. I really enjoyed how all the toys are the same on the show as in the book because I've always liked the names of the toys. I thought the mischieve in this book was cute (rather than some of the annoying things Max gets away with). Also, Ruby was acting like a sister versus a mother in this one. I liked how this was really a counting book, but it also had a plot.

[Alyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son loves Max because Max is always doing something that he is told not to do. This time it is inviting certain guests to the party even after Ruby told him no. The fact that Ruby never noticed anything too weird didn't make any sense to me but this is a children's book, meant for children to enjoy, and my son certainly didn't mind it. In fact, that kind of blew right over his head. He was too busy laughing at what Max was doing.

[T Crockett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is essentially a counting book, but what I like about it is that the counting (up to ten) is actually part of the plot. Because of that I've found the kids (preschool) are more willing to count along and not just stare at me like I'm crazy.

There's a Bunny Party movie and soundtrack that have expand on the plot (and remove the counting). The kids love these and the soundtrack is pretty enjoyable from an adult point of view too.

[Seher Patka · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sister bunny decides to have a tea party with her stuffed toys and grandma. However, when she doesn't invite her brother's toys to the tea party, Max gets upset. He takes two of his sister's toys and replaces them with his. His sister doesn't notice but tries to do the math in her head and figure out what's going on. This book is perfect for a mini math lesson.

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 4-year-old loves Max and Ruby so, of course, he loved this book. I think you might have to see the show to appreciate the book so you can get a sense of what Max and Ruby are really like.

My child loved that Max was so sneaky in getting his "guests" at the table. He thought it was funny when Ruby couldn't figure out why she couldn't count the right number of guests.

[Kristin H.]

My son and daughter love this book. Ruby wants to throw a party for grandma but Max doesn't like ruby's guest list. While Ruby is getting more chairs Max puts all of his toys in the seats. Grandma likes all of the uninvited guests.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique counting book that highlights the relationship between Max and his bossy big sister, Ruby. Count their party guests from one to ten. Fun to read aloud, especially for Max and Ruby fans, like our girls. We've borrowed this a few times from the library.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether you're looking for a "counting" book, a "party" book, a book featuring "grandma", or even a story about "toys" -- this will fill the bill.

Boys love it because Max is all boy and girls love it because Ruby is all girl. In a word, DELIGHTFUL!

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, Max's wishes are ignored by Ruby and Max finds a way to fix things for himself...with help from Grandma of course, because Ruby doesn't know exactly what Grandma wants, no matter how much she thinks she does. =)

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max has the coolest toys. Can I have a Jellyball Shooter Spider?

[Waits · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, now Waits wants a Jellybean Shooter Spider and an Ear-Splitter Space Cadet. Thanks, Rosemary Wells.

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book actually made me laugh out loud the first time I read it. My daughter was perplexed. One of our new favorites.

[Deana Pittman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abbi says, "I like it alot. Max was sneaky putting his toys at the party."

[Carmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute! Max is always so clever.

[Laudys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max, as always, gives his older sister, Ruby, a headache. But I must admit, he's one clever bunny.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

weird

[Readergirl77 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nathan loves Max and Ruby.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used this as a fun counting book too.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the better Max and Ruby books. It was really cute and nice to see Max not get excluded as usual.