- "Ros Asquith’s ebullient illustrations capture Max’s irrepressible energy in this warm hearted, inclusive picture book."
"Ros Asquith’s ebullient illustrations capture Max’s irrepressible energy in this warm hearted, inclusive picture book." - Julia Eccleshare, Love Reading"This book features forms of disability never before included in books, subtly and without reference." - Books for Keeps
"What this book is, is a celebration of fun activity, showing us how a diverse mix of people make Max’s reality (and his dreams) all the more vibrant and interesting, and it sends out the message that the same is true for all of us." - Booktrust
"An exciting and inclusive story." - Carousel
"The children and adults are just being themselves, not set apart in any way, and this is how disability should be shown in children’s books and so rarely is. Inclusivity should be just that, so usual as to be un-noticeable… a special book." - Books for Keeps
"Could this be the perfect inclusive book? . . . A celebration of fun activity, showing us how a diverse mix of people make Max’s reality (and his dreams) all the more vibrant and interesting, and it sends out the message that the same is true for all of us." - Bookmark
"It's a book which should make us stop and think about inclusion, as well as being a fun story about a very imaginative little boy. Colourful illustrations by Ros Asquith capture the spirit of the book." - Parents in Touch
"Ros Asquith’s ebullient illustrations capture Max’s irrepressible energy in this warm hearted, inclusive picture book." - Love Reading
"A good book . . . for promoting inclusion and positive attitudes towards those with disabilities." - Early Years Educator
"The book shows children with and without disabilities enjoying sport together in an attractive and funny mainstream picture book." - Connected
"Selected by Fiona Noble in Bookseller Children's Previews: Picture Books for June. 'A lively, fun story promoting inclusivity and a positive portrayal of children enjoying sport with and without disabilities." - The Bookseller
"This book features forms of disability never before included in books, subtly and without reference."
Recommended in an article about dyslexia: 'Shows a very positive and non-specific scene in which a thoroughly diverse and inclusive class of children is practising handwriting, with no direct mention of dyslexia.'
11/01/2014
K-Gr 2—Max eats, sleeps, and even dreams sports and the winners circle, from the morning's first alarm until the night falls. As he races downstairs, inhales a first spoonful of cereal, and speeds off to school for the day's activities, Max thinks of only one thing—SPORTS. His imagination takes him to different competitions—he races, he dives, he never misses a sledding turn. During a tournament with another school, Max throws a ball and joins his classmates onstage to receive trophies. He then zooms out the door to excel in his other competitive venue—his imagination. Highlighted words and change of font emphasize the pen and watercolor, cartoon images of Max's dreams, including a gender and ethnically diverse group of sports contenders and his animal companions. It is only in studying the drawings that one realizes that Max wears a hearing aid, a young athlete uses a wheelchair, and a batter has a leg brace. Highly detailed, this book promotes both the power of the imagination and determination. An addendum notes the book's association with the national UK charity Booktrust and nasen, which embraces "all special and educational needs and disabilities." A general purchase for all libraries.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX
2014-06-25
A sports-obsessed boy makes his way through his day in winning style. No matter the endeavor, Max imagines himself in a competition. As he races downstairs to breakfast, in his head he is running a road race. As he zooms through writing lessons in school, he imagines throwing a giant, pencil-shaped javelin. Asquith's active, spindly lines and licks of watercolor include at least one person (usually a kid) in both Max's real life and his dream world with some seemingly limiting physical condition. This lets readers appreciate that if you have a guide dog, that shouldn't stop you from tobogganing, or a wheelchair from taking to the ski slope, or a leg brace from a turn at bat, or an occluder from bike racing. Acceptance is both the issue and the nonissue here; Max sees no barriers to his friends' participation in his imaginary games—or his own (Max evidently has asthma). The actual plot is rather flimsy, with Max's school winning an entire tournament in just one page—but that's not the point.This is not a subtle book, but its heart is absolutely in the right place. (Picture book. 4-8)
