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Worth reading 😎
With the right marketing, this book will live on bookshelves alongside Dr. Seuss as well as Dick and Jane.
It was a regular school day for the students of Room 23, until the math menace arrived disguised as a surprise test ready to ruin the day! Anxiety grips Max's friends and chaos ensues because they feel unprepared to pass this test. But, Max has a little secret up her sleeve...she's super! Super Max must help her friends overcome their test anxiety and take down the math menace one problem at a time. Will she make it in time to save the day and help her friends pass the math test?
When the book opens, the reader isn’t quite sure where the story is going. Why is Max super? What makes her super? Why or how is math a menace? And why would a book go out of its way to make kids nervous about math?
It never is explained how or why Max is super. However, she does carry a cape and mask in her backpack that her teacher lets her take out to wear randomly in class. She uses her “superpower” of being brave and conquering her fears when she has test anxiety and helps the whole class to get over their nervousness. The entire store is told in rhyme. The idea is cute. It will likely be popular in elementary school classrooms and I’m picturing kindergarten and first grade teachers reading it to their students.
The concept of using superhero bravery to do well at school tests will probably market well with the target audience. The wording is reminiscent of a toned-down version of Dr Seuss without the made-up words and will make for good reading practice. The fact that there is no explanation why Max carries a cape and mask in her backpack will likely lead to questions on the part of young readers and might make for fun class discussions.
Overall, the book is entertaining and will likely be engaging for young readers. If my kid was still of an age where he would appreciate the story, I would be reading it to him. And knowing the way kids are about books, I would likely be reading this book to him over and over again.
This is the kind of book anyone with young family members can count on as a present to give to children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. Something you hand down from one kid to the next as they learn to read and face the struggles of starting test taking in school. Super Max and the Math Menace is the kind of not-quite-new-to-reading book that that children are going to ask their parents if they still have it in storage somewhere around the house when they are grown and their own children reach the appropriate age to read it. They will happily share their worn copies with “happy birthday’s” and “Merry Christmas’s” written on the inside covers with the children now in their life. Or they will fondly recall how much they loved their long-lost copy as they buy a new print for a kid they know.
Reviewed by
Delilah Bluette majored in Criminal Psychology and has published several short works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry under other pen names. She lives on the West Coast with two dogs, two cats, and her family.
Synopsis
It was a regular school day for the students of Room 23, until the math menace arrived disguised as a surprise test ready to ruin the day! Anxiety grips Max's friends and chaos ensues because they feel unprepared to pass this test. But, Max has a little secret up her sleeve...she's super! Super Max must help her friends overcome their test anxiety and take down the math menace one problem at a time. Will she make it in time to save the day and help her friends pass the math test?
About the author
San Jose transplant via San Diego. I spent ten years in Social Work helping foster youth and homeless veterans. I enjoy traveling with my two children and exploring new activities. I frequent baseball and hockey games when my teams are in town (Go Cubs and Blackhawks!). view profile
Published on March 12, 2020
Published by
0-1000 words
Worked with a Reedsy professional 🏆
Genre: Picture Books
Reviewed by
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