School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-The "do as I say, not as I do" guidance of Max returns in this continuation of the series. Breaking the fourth wall, the titular character gives listeners the lowdown on soccer. He is, after all, an expert-he's been playing for almost three weeks! It won't take kids long to realize that Max isn't heeding his own advice. While the rest of his team prepares for the game, Max does somersaults, admires a butterfly, and empties his pockets of seashells, crayons, and other ephemera. Frequent recommendations to just "Kick the ball, Max" are roundly ignored. After all, someone has to pull up dandelions and four-leaf clovers so they don't distract the players, and that someone might as well be Max. While Max poses for pictures, watches clouds, and enjoys some well-deserved bench time, the rest of his team is playing hard. Tension mounts as everyone-perhaps listeners included-encourages Max to kick the ball, resulting in a twist ending that is absolutely Max's modus operandi. The playful, whimsical artwork perfectly complements the book's sweetly irreverent tone, while the mix of full-spread and framed panels gives this a charming comic-book flair. VERDICT Sports fans and lovers of a good silly picture book will have much to cheer for here. An endearing addition to most collections.-Abby Bussen, Muskego Public Library, WI © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In his second story (following Max Explains Everything: Grocery Store Expert), Max-a boy with hair like brown yarn-thinks he's a soccer aficionado. Readers will observe that Max actually prefers finding insects and four-leaf clovers in the field over playing the game. But Max's disinterest is no big deal; at the sidelines, the kind, gray-haired coach offers him an orange wedge and the "thousands of fans" (really only a handful) watch from the sidelines. A moment arrives for Max to show he's got skills after all-but, refreshingly, he's more interested in the promise of after-game snacks than in making the goal. Max is a relatable hero for readers who like being on the field but whose minds might not be entirely in the game. Ages 4-8. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
