Big sister Ruby is helping Max clean his room. Of course, Max is not being much help in conventional terms, but in his own way he does contribute. Into the front pocket of Max's overalls go pebbles and sand from his Power City Rocker Crusher dump truck, a few ants from his ant farm, his melting Popsicle, and well, you get the idea. Like all Max and Ruby books, this one does not disappoint. It's often hard for parents to find the humor in a child's messiness, but Wells reminds us that it's essential to try. Ruby says to Max, "There is a place for everything and everything is in its place." But how Max responds to that stock phrase is just one of the things that makes this book special. Kathy Broderick Copyright c American Library Association. All rights reserved