Max Fernsby and the Infinite Toys (2023)
By Gerry Swallow and Peter Gaulke, Marta Kissi (illustrator)
4RBooks: 4/6, grades 4-7
Amazon rating: 4.7/5 (4 reviews), grade level 3-7
Good Reads: 4.12/5
Common Sense Media: not yet reviewed
201 pages
Synopsis:
Max is a 10-year-old kid with a hard life. He has lived with foster parents since his mother passed away. They are cheap and no fun. He has two great friends named Leoni and Baxter who try to keep him out of trouble, with little success.
One day, after causing a major commotion in the town while sledding down hill on a bed pan, Max has a bag fall on his head from out of the sky. It seems like an ordinary red bag until it starts providing him with any toy that he desires. Max thinks it is the answer to all his problems.
Meanwhile, Santa’s elves Eldor and Skhiff are desperately trying to find the bag. It fell out of Santa’s sleigh when they took it for a joy ride to get pizza. Also looking for the bag is Mr. Bozeman, an evil toy manufacturer who wants the bag to help cut costs and make him rich.
Christmas is in danger if the bag isn’t returned to Santa in time for his trip and there is one last surprise in the bag that will change everything forever.
Parental Guidance: medium-low
*A few borderline gross-out situations, a few “don’t try this at home,” slapstick
comedy situations.
*Max lost his mother in a car accident. He now lives with foster parents. He
believes they only want him because of the money they receive from the state. They are frugal to the point of ridiculousness making an unhappy home for Max.
*Max and his friends are put in dangerous situations as others try to get the bag.
Recommendation:
I love reading Christmas themed books during the holidays, so I was excited to find this book at The Book Loft in Solvang, California, while on a Christmas themed getaway trip.
This is a silly, fun adventure with shades of Home Alone, The Santa Clause, and Santa Claus: The Movie. It is a quick and easy read that should hold the interest of all levels of readers, but especially for the more reluctant readers. No parental guidance necessary but a few words and scenes might make it an awkward classroom read for a teacher. It should be fine for a school or classroom library and a fun stocking stuffer for Christmas.
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