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*Max and the Dumb Flower Picture* by Martha Alexander, illustrated by James Rumford
Also written and/or illustrated by Martha Alexander:

The Little Green Witch

I'll Protect You from the Jungle Beasts
Max and the Dumb Flower Picture
by Martha Alexander, illustrated by James Rumford
Grades PreK-1 32 pages Charlesbridge July 2009 Hardcover    

Little Max is mad, because he doesn’t want to color the “dumb flower picture” that Miss Tilley wants him to color. The flower picture is supposed to be a gift for his mother, since Mother’s Day was soon approaching. Miss Tilley has made copies of the picture for each of the students to color and make pretty.

But Max is sure his mom doesn’t want some dumb flower picture: what she really wants is Max’s very own creation, of course. So a frustrated Max sulks and stomps his feet through class, finally running off with his crayons and the picture of the flower.

The other children and a kindly policeman finally locate Max hiding behind a bush in the playground. But when the children and Miss Tilley see what Max has made on the back of the flower picture, he inspires all the children into making their own unique and creative art for their mothers.

While this is a perfectly pleasant book with no noticeable drawbacks, it also doesn’t particularly stand out either for its theme and prose. The artwork is interesting and accomplished, but is unable to carry the book on its own. Still, the book makes a good point about following one’s own vision, whether in art or in life.
 


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  Usha Reynolds/2010 for curled up with a good kid's book  






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