Max's Bunny Business (Max and Ruby)

Bought this for my three year old grandson named Max. He finds Max's adventures/peccadilloes hilarious. This book is one of the "read it again please, Grandma" books.You can't go wrong with anything by Rosemary Wells.

Max and Ruby are at it again in another humorous adventure that happens to contain valuable lessons about entrepreneurship and competition. Ruby and her friend Louise have their eyes set on two new Fire Angel flashing rings at the novelty store, and they decide to set up a lemonade stand so they can earn the money to purchase the rings. While little brother Max wants to help, the girls do not see him as part of their business plan and they send him off to play. Not easily deterred, Max sets up his own stand and shows the girls a thing or two about competition. Max's Bunny Business weaves some important economics concepts into a clever story with delightful illustrations that will appeal to readers of all ages.

Of the hundreds of stories I've read to my two children, this one leaps out at me as the most morally askew. In order to raise money to buy a coveted ring, Ruby and Louise set up a lemonade stand. Max not only spills the lemonade but then undercuts them by selling his long forgotten Halloween candy. (And what sane bunny forgets their Halloween candy anyway)? Then Grandma buys it all for a dollar and they dash off to buy the last of the rings that Louise and Ruby so coveted, which Max keeps. If my mother and younger child did that to my older one I'd disown them! I'm afraid the best place for Max and Grandma is in a rabbit stew. Alas my youngest daughter loves this story and asks for it repeatedly. The fact I get so annoyed when I read it, seems to amuse her greatly! It really isn't often I take against a harmless children's book or character, but in this case I get the last laugh, because I'll be doing all I can to veto these dysfunctional little rodents in the future.

Our whole family loves Rosemary Wells. We love Max and Ruby. Great story.

I was sad to see Max sneak out and buy the rings he knew his sister and her friend were saving up for, apparently with the approval of their grandmother. THe bunnies are not usually so mean-spirited.