Makers Wanted

10/9/2018

Made by Maxine by Ruth Spiro ill Holly Hatam

"If I can dream it, I can make it."

Maxine, a thinker and tinkerer, joins the ranks of iconic young inventors. Her specialty is repurposing items to create something new and better. Our spunky little heroine is determined to create a habitat for her goldfish Milton. He is worthy of more than an ordinary round fishbowl. Maxine sets to work.

The result is astonishing. Not content to rest on her laurels, she enhances her invention with a pedal-powered fish feeder and a Makey Makey sound system. Cowabunga! Her problem-solving skills are put to the test when her teacher announces that the class will have a Pet Parade. How can she include her goldfish in this event? This dilemma proves to be her most daunting challenge to date. Multiple attempts to solve the problem result in multiple failures.

She had already discovered a million ways that would not work. Which meant she was getting closer to finding a way that would work.

Her hard work and determination eventually pay off. Maxine includes Milton in the Pet Parade with an invention Made by Maxine.

While messages of recycling and inclusion are woven into the narrative, it is Maxine's persistence in the face of setbacks that shines through. Spiro has created one determined little girl. Hatam's illustrations are brimming with clever and inventive touches. (Love the "wheelie delicious" fish-feeder that Maxine operates while reading Fish Tales.)

Let's hope that some little inventor shows up for Halloween dressed in sparkle shoes, a flouncy skirt and a knitted thinking cap with attached antenna.