Shari Becker, illustrated by Nicole Wong,
Maxwell's Mountain
Charlesbridge, 2006.

Ages 4-7

On Maxwell's first visit to a new park, he is captivated by a mountain of yellow and brown boulders. "It was awesome. It was glorious. And it was big." So big, in fact, that Maxwell's parents won't let him climb it. "That hill is where the big kids play," his mom explains. But Maxwell is determined to prove he's up to the challenge and after he does considerable research and training, his parents agree. Shari Becker's captivating story is firmly grounded in the perspective of a small child for whom a hill of boulders is indeed a mountain, and successfully climbing them on his own truly makes him feel as if he's standing on top of the world. Nicole Wong's engaging watercolor and ink illustrations strike just the right tone, picking up on and extending moments of humor in Becker's story while respecting the seriousness with which Maxwell views the challenge. Wong depicts Maxwell as a biracial child, with an Asian father and white mother.

Megan Schliesman
October 2006