Ruby and Max are at it again. This time, they’re preparing for Grandma’s birthday party. Ruby, of course, is in charge. But Max is her willing helper — how else can he be sure that his guests are seated at the table? So while Ruby gives orders, Max works havoc on the seating arrangements, substituting his Jellyball Shooter Spider for Ruby’s Rapunzel doll, and his Can’t-Sit-Up-Slug for Ruby’s Tooth Fairy. Numbers from one to ten are featured in this latest Max and Ruby outing. The full-color art was created with mixed media. (Ages 3–5)

When Ruby invites seven stuffed toy guests to Grandma's birthday party, they all answer YES. Max wants to invite his Jellyball Shooter Spider, his Space Cadet, and his Can't-Sit-Up Slug, but Ruby says no. Yet each time Ruby counts the number of places at the table, another guest has mysteriously appeared. Is Ruby having a bad counting day? Or is someone having a little fun with the guest list? One part musical chairs, one part counting trickery, and all parts Max, this hilarious new story is Max and Ruby at their best!

Rosemary Wells is the acclaimed author of more than sixty books for children, including the Max and Ruby books, and Timothy Goes to School, now a PBS animated television series.