Module 2: African American Literature, Max Found Two Sticks

MAX FOUND TWO STICKS

Pinkney, Brian. 1997. MAX FOUND TWO STICKS. New York, New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN 9780689815935

Plot Summary

Max is sitting on the steps one day watching the clouds swirl in the sky and the wind blow the leaves of the trees when suddenly the wind causes two strong sticks to fall from a nearby tree.

Max begins to beat out the rhythm of the things he hears instead of talking. Max use various items as drums such as a pail from his grandfather, his sister's hat boxes, empty soda bottles, and trash cans. A marching band passes in front of Max's house and to his surprise one of the drummers tosses him an extra pair of drum sticks. "And the beat goes on."

Critical Analysis

Brian Pinkney uses bright color oil paints and gouache in his scratchboard illustrations to provide a lively, colorful setting for his young character, Max. The setting is in an urban city lined with row house apartments. The opening of this story finds Max leisurely sitting on the front steps leading to the street. The black, short, curly haired Max is dressed in jeans, a sweatshirt and tennis shoes. His large brown eyes reveal a reflective nature which is evident as the story unfolds. His friends, Cindy, Shaun and Jamal represent the diversity of culture you might expect to find in a large city. Around the corner is a church building which looks like a cathedral also found in large cities. Pinkney shortens his words to reveal a distinctive dialogue using words such as doin, gonna,and whatacha doin when the characters address Max and ask him what he is doing. Max stays focused on his drumming and continues to hear the beat of the music in everything around him. the plot is simple with flat characters and simple dialogue. The illustrations provide the energy in this picture book of a young boy with a music focus.

Reviews

Publishers Weekly: "The fluid lines of Pinkney's distinctive scratchboard illustrations fairly swirl with energy, visually translating Max's joy in creating rhythm and sound."

Kirkus Reviews: "Pinkney's illustrations are superb; they vividly convey the imagination and vitality of this budding young musican. A perfect marriage of idea and art."

Awards/Connections

MUSIC, MUSIC FOR EVERYONE, written by Vera B. Williams

MY FAMILY PLAYS MUSIC, written by Judy Cox

VIOLET'S MUSIC, written by Angela Johnson

JAZZ, written by Walter Dean Myers