Max Makes a Million is far and away my favorite book to read to my kids. The rhythm of its poetry is remarkable. Its drawings are fresh. Its story delightfully different. I have read many other Kalman books, and this is hands down the very best.

The pictures are great, fun and colorful and it keeps the readers interested. Mine want to know what Max will do next!

If you like e.e. cummings, this book, along with the three other Max Stravinsky books i know, is for you. And your kids might even like watching while you read it to yourself. If you don't like e.e. cummings, you should.

After my grandaughter received "Hey Willie, see the Pyramids" as a gift, we became fascinated with Maira Kalman's books. Our most recent acquisition is Sayonara Mrs. Kackleman. The naive illustrations are wonderful and plentiful enough to spend a good amount of time on each page. We like to fill in the thoughts of all the characters. This has been her "bedtime book of choice" for quite a while now. We now dream of going to Pajan to see the Japansneeze!

Maira Kalman does a wonderful job of capturing her reader's imagination and eye. She has a very playful graspe of the English language. Her style is envigorating. Children and adults are captivated by the rhythmic storytelling. The colorful illustrations make it hard to turn the pages while the text spurs the reader on to do just that. This is an entirely delightful children's book that will give readers the travel bug.

This is a story about two kids who take a trip to Japan. The writing style is really humorous, and yet it is not not silly. It uses puns and a wonderful descriptive style in ways that are really original. My son (age 3) really enjoys this story, and so do his older cousins. The illustrations are also interesting and fun to look out. This is a good book to read out loud at bedtime.

Maira Kalman is that rare writer for children whose books are clever enough for adults to enjoy, even after the repeated readings this book is sure to elicit. This title is my Kalman favorite, but it shares with her others a tilted humor, totally strange and yet completely recognizable characters, and a passion for life's pleasures, namely meaningful work. Though there's a lot of text here [this is no quick read the likes of "Goodnight Moon," folks], "Chicken Soup, Boots" begs to be read aloud for the patter, song and joy of its language, so have a glass of water standing by.

Like Alexandra Day's book "Frank and Ernest," whose subject in part is diner language, "Chicken Soup, Boots" features some great diner talk, beginning with its title which means a chicken soup to go. But Barney March, "an eight-armed octopus called the short order cook" is not the only character whose job is featured here. The book is about people who have found what they love to do, and describes a bit about how they do it. There are doctors and doormen, astronomers and architects, piano teachers and performance artists. This is a long book crammed with vignettes and memories, joyous accounts of satisfying work, which Kalman calls, "your job. Your work. Your it. Your you."

Each reading of "Chicken Soup, Boots" to a child accomplishes the double task of empowering the listener to become anything he or she wants, while reassuring the reader that it's not too late for adults, either. Kalman's paintings, as visual as her writing is musical, depict people who are who they are, flaws and all.

For those seeking diversity represented in children's books, you will find here a pianist who composes pop songs at the keyboard from his wheelchair, and characters of varied race and language backgrounds, all working hard and enjoying life in New York City since, like many of Kalman's books, it is set there.

For all its tilt, angle and color, "Chicken Soup, Boots" is a comforting, reassuring picture book for this confusing world, in which work both defines and undoes us. It will be a much appreciated book for artistic and philosophical children and their parents...Kalman is a true original in the world of children's book publishing.

maira kalman is filled with spontaneity, treasures and lyrics. the art is a trip of it's own. a reason in itself to buy the book. this one is crazy rhymes. funny names. funky faces. jobs. odd jobs. odder jobs. and the oddest jobs i wish i could get.

This is THE book for all the Max fans out there- me being one of them and kicking myself for not buying it way back then. Sure hope I'll get another chance! So does my son, Max. Maira Kalman has changed the way I see children's books- She's the BEST!

Maira Kalman is a genius of freshness. a fresh breathness of couleur and "dreamy schemes"...she writes of love, amour, le coeur and life, through the use of a dog who finds a wife. She is for all children (those we can see and those trapped in adult's bodies)full of bewilderin' and those who drink toddies...this book NEEDS to be in print, for it creates human spirint for any animal being who should come near it. To max & suzette & maira thankyou merci beaucoup!!xoxoxox! (you've reminded me that life (and art) is supposed to be fun) now i am done. -S.

Max, like Maira's books, is extremely well made. There are a few surprises, which I won't disclose since the best part about Max is exploring his wacky wardrobe and accessories. Max is also the perfect size for the bookshelf, and likes to hang out (where else) with the poetry books. Max's eccentricity and charm is captured in this doll, and he is a must for any big fan.

I couldn't help but to wonder...how the heck was Maira planning to design a dog who has such an abstract and colorful appearance in all her books. And then I got the doll in the mail and knew right away the design was perfect. This doll is an excellent 3 Dimensional representation of Max Stravinsky...with his 2 tone ears, mushy nose, akward eyes and clothes that look like they were purchased at a thrift store (maybe they were). There are a lot of neat surprises with the Max Doll that can be enjoyed by adults of all ages... Be sure to check out Max's boxer shorts while your at it.

It has been many years since I have seen a copy of this book.. but I remember being a child in 1989 and recieving a free copy of it from a librarian for Christmas I think. I wasn't into the Talking Heads like I am now (I had no clue who they were). But I remember the story was crazy and the illustrations were equally as crazy, but still pretty cool. I did my first so-called "book report" in 1st grade on this book. As I grew older, I was introduced to the Talking Heads and became an avid fan. My copy of this book, this artifact from my youth, is somewhere in the endless realm of my attic. But if I ever have children, I will use this to introduce them to the Talking Heads.

Great find for children as well as a lighthearted read for adults. You don't have to be a David Byrne fanatic to love this stuff!

David Byrne is the master of sarcasism and there is plenty of it to go around in just this song alone. A great, up beat, happy song with very open twist. This book not only captures this twist but even plays with it some more with great illustrations. This is a lot like other children's books that are filled with hidden meanings, that are sometimes downright scary. I am just happy that this marriage occured to one of my favorite Talking Heads songs. A great book!

This is a mind-expanding book. It's quirky (like all of Kalman's books), beautifully illustrated (with real art), and it introduces the character Max the blue dog who stars in some of her later books. It looks like a kids book, but really offers something for all who are open to it. Kids can relate to LuLu and her brother, and adults can better relate to kids when they remember their own dreams and fantasies and (if they're lucky) the stories their siblings told to get them to go to sleep. A great book!

Meet Poppy Wise and her dog Pete. When it comes to eating, Pete is far from discriminating. If fact, he'll eat just about anything. So Poppy begins at the beginning with the letter A and chronicles exactly what this ever-hungry canine has gotten into. Moving letter by letter this includes Cousin Rocky's Accordion...All of it, a Camera, an Eggbeater, a Fez, and her brother's magic Key. At the Lucky dog show he ate all the Leashes which Let Loose all the dogs. A bit later he ate Mrs Parlsey's Pink Pocketbook, a Stinky Sneaker, Cousin Rocky's Underpants (Uggh!), and a Yo-yo. And as Poppy finally tells us, the only thing Pete won't eat is Zug Zug Dog Grub..... Maira Kalman has written a charming and hilarious walk through the alphabet that's full of unforgettable characters, wordplay, irreverent commentary, and witty asides. Both kids and adults will smile, giggle and eventually laugh out loud at the antics of four legged eating machine. Her delightful and energetic text is told in an easy to read, conversational style, and complemented by bold, bright and busy child-like artwork. Youngsters will enjoy poring over the pictures and finding all the silly details on each page. Perfect for kids 4-8, What Pete Ate From A-Z is a special, joyous romp, that makes a terrific gift, and is a wonderful addition to all home bookshelves.

Max is in Paris, the city of light and romance, to see the sights and maybe, just maybe find his heart's delight. "...Who is Max??? Mon dieu! Sacre Bleu! He is the coolest cat, I mean the hottest dog. He is Max Stravinsky. The dog poet from New York. That Bohemian beagle..." He stays at the little hotel run by the "aromatic" Madame Camembert, and tours the city, visiting the Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower, the parks, boulevards and cafes. He eats, he drinks, and takes French lessons from Charlotte Russe. And he walks and walks, meeting a quirky cast of original characters, always looking for love..."It was April after all." He's invited out to the Crazy Wolf Nightclub by owner Pierre Potpourri, to hear the incomparable pianist, Crepes Suzette, and it is there he finds his "raison d'etre", the dog he's been looking for his entire life..... Maira Kalman has authored an ingeniously inventive and entertaining picture book classic, starring the ever-endearing Max, that truly stands alone in a class by itself. Her witty and creative text, part French, part English, begs to be read aloud, and is full of clever rhymes, wordplay and puns, and complemented by her intricately detailed and expressive artwork. Children and adults alike will enjoy poring over the pages, always finding something new and intriguing everytime they open the book. Ooh-La-La (Max In Love) is a masterpiece that will be enjoyed by "children" of all ages, from 5 to 95, and a book to be treasured and shared with friends and family now, and in the many years to come. This is Maira Kalman at her very best. Make sure you get your copy now!

Maira Kalman is wonderful. I totally fell in love with this book. I shared it with the first graders that I tutor and they adored the zany illustrations and blushed when Max fell for the lovely Crepes Suzette. It was also a great way to introduce a little french culture. They were totally facinated and asked me to find more Max books. Please don't pass this one by because some of the vocab may be difficult for kids to understand. The illustrations are the most amazing that I've ever seen. Both kids and adults alike will be enthralled.

this book rocks your world. Maira is a beauteous creator ofdream-color-scenes. A word-art-poet and a (dog)breath of freshair...the best is "max deluxe" (which includes all the max stories(3) but the latest India adventure). I highly recommend this to any age (i am 28) and actually the older the better, because the creative-refreshness that these books offer is the stuff that kindergarteners (and dogs) already possess and that older humans long for. remind your SELF what life is truly about. use these books as your guide.

I like history stories because I like when my mom happy-cries. My mom happy-cried at this book. The book made me glad that the people saved New York and other people worked the fireboat. I gave it four stars instead of five because lots of people think it's scary, it might scare little children. But I didn't think this story was scary, not one bit.

With dynamic illustrations and words, Maira Kalman offers a remarkable story about the role of a fireboat in NYC on September 11. As a school librarian/media specialist, I have been sharing this book with 2nd grade and up... When I have shown the book to coworkers and friends, each person has been impressed with Kalman's book. Without a doubt, Fireboat is on its way to being a classic.

In keeping with such children's classics such as "Mike Mulligan & His Steam Shovel" & "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge" this story tells about the usefullness of an old NYC fireboat, called out of retirement to fight the fires on 9/11. I see that others were bothered that a book for young children mentions such a difficult day in history. Perhaps the cover should have some sort of warning. However, the illustrations are not scary or morbid. My 5yo son absolutely loved the book and begged to hear it again when we brought it home from the library so we'll be adding it to our own collection.