Max's Chocolate Chicken – Easter Cartoon
Nick Jr. Max & Ruby Show Easter Episode Review
Mar 28, 2009
This Easter-themed episode of the Nick Jr. cartoon about sibling bunnies Ruby and Max is a cute adaptation of one of Rosemary Wells' Max books – Max's Chocolate Chicken [Puffin, 2000]. Though mischievous in general, Max is naughtier than usual in this Easter cartoon, and after watching it parents may want to discuss with children sibling relationships and the fairness of both Max and his sister Ruby's actions.
Max's Chocolate Chicken – Easter Cartoon Plot
When the Easter Bunny leaves a chocolate chicken in the birdbath, Max and Ruby each respond to it in characteristic ways: Max loves it at first sight, and Ruby immediately makes up a bossy rule about it, decreeing that it will be the prize for whomever finds the most eggs on an egg hunt.
Ruby bustles about finding eggs, while Max finds himself distracted from the hunt by such imaginative pursuits as floating his egg basket in a mud puddle like a boat, making music by drumming on flower pots with sticks, and stirring acorns into the mud puddle to make acorn soup.
All the while, Ruby gently but insistently rubs it in Max's face that she will be winning the chocolate chicken because she is the one behaving properly and finding all the eggs. But, when it comes time to claim "her" prize, Max has run away with it, not returning before he has eaten the whole thing. Tragedy is averted, however, by the third act appearance of a chocolate duck...which Max also loves at first sight.
Max's Chocolate Chicken – Easter Cartoon Review for Parents
Some parents have expressed concern about this story, noting that children may take away from it the idea that it is okay to sneak food that does not belong to you and to disobey rules. Just for this reason, the plot of this story makes a great starting point for a discussion about rules and fairness.
For example, parents can ask children questions such as:
- Does Ruby have the right to decide that the chocolate chicken will be an egg hunt prize, instead of Max and Ruby just sharing it evenly from the start?
- Based on Max's behavior during the egg hunt, does it seem like he ever agreed to participate in the egg hunt or that the chocolate chicken is an egg hunt prize?
- If Ruby had the right to make the chocolate chicken a prize, why wouldn't Max have an equal right to decide that finders are keepers and run off and eat the whole thing (as he does)?
Instead of letting children walk away from this Easter cartoon episode thinking that it is all right to break rules and run off with things that do not belong to you, parents can take the time to have a discussion to make it clear that neither Ruby nor Max behave completely well or completely badly in this situation.
As necessary, parents should also remind kids of the generally loving and mutually supportive sibling relationship that Ruby and Max enjoy, pointing out that although here Ruby is being bossy about setting rules and trying to make Max participate in the egg hunt, she is probably doing it for his own good, because she believes it is beneficial for him to follow Easter traditions instead of going off and doing his own thing with nature.
Related Rosemary Wells Max and Ruby Books
To extend the fun, check out some related Rosemary Wells Max and Ruby books. For starters, children will enjoy reading the book version of this Easter episode – Max's Chocolate Chicken.
Max Counts His Chickens by Rosemary Wells [Puffin, 2007] is another variation on the theme of siblings competing for the same Easter treat. In this case, the Easter Bunny hides ten hot-pink marshmallow chicks around the house. Ruby, naturally, finds all ten, while Max causes havoc in each room by looking in increasingly unlikely places (in a tube of toothpaste, inside a carton of orange juice). After Ruby has collected all ten chicks, tragedy is once again averted by the Easter Bunny returning and dropping off ten more chicks, this time yellow and specifically for Max.
Parents can locate the Easter cartoon Max's Chocolate Chicken on the 2005 Max & Ruby DVD Springtime for Max & Ruby (along with several other episodes of the Max & Ruby show). If children are big fans of Max and Ruby, parents may want to invest in a copy, but if parents are just looking for a fun children's Easter show to watch once or twice, parents should rent this DVD or check it out of the library.
Parents interested in other Nick Jr. cartoon show Easter episode reviews can check out a review of the Dora the Explorer Easter episode Egg Hunt and a review of Easter with Max & Ruby (another DVD collection of cartoon episodes from the Max and Ruby show).
Families and other Easter special fans can check out more reviews of children's Easter cartoon television shows.
 |
