Adventures of Max the Minnow (Eyeball Animation) (Wiggle Eyes)
Today many picture books are published which have beautiful illustrations, but the text is weird or written above the level of the youngest readers. Not The Adventures of Max the Minnow given to me by my second grade student, Kyle. He knew I would have the giggles for days to come! What enhances the humorous illustrations are two tightly secured wobbling eyeballs which fit from cover to cover causing everyone to laugh at each turn of the page. This story is about a tiny minnow who yearns to be a big fish: "'Maybe I can puff up, too!"/ Max told his seahorse, Sam./ "If I can't be big naturally,/ I'll EAT until I am.'" Then Max gorges on plankton shakes at Saltfish Malts, pizzas at Pizza Cove, pasta at Noodle Hut, and almost gets eaten himself at Sharky's Dinner, which Max thinks should be spelled "Sharky's Diner." But Max becomes too fat and slow until he learns: "That "Big Fish" aren't just made./ It's what you do with what you've got,/ That helps you make the grade./ And Max has lost the weight he gained,/ As you and I can witness. For he's become the biggest fish,/ in underwater fitness!" Librarians and teachers will appreciate the inclusion of a picture glossary about each species of sea life mentioned in the text. This is the third in the series of eyeball animation books which also includes Mystery in Bugtown and Ten Little Dinosaurs. Their newest title Friends of a Feather will be available this June. For some serious eye-popping fun, I recommend this book for fishermen, scuba divers, their children and everyone else! --FromIndependent Publisher