DVD Review: Max & Ruby: Rainy Day Play

Max & Ruby: Rainy Day Play DVD will be released on April 12, 2011 for the suggested retail price of $16.99.

Nickelodeon’s Max & Ruby is a top-rated animated series based on the children’s books by Rosemary Wells. Each episode centers on bunny siblings Max, a determined three-year-old and his big sister, Ruby, a smart, goal-oriented seven-year-old.  The show offers an empowering message for children by showing Max and Ruby playing together and resolving their differences in ways that are respectful and supportive.

Our Thoughts:

Max & Ruby is a sweet show. Unlike lots of other kids’ programming, this show is quietly entertaining. Max, the little bunny brother, brings humor and his sister, Ruby, teaches kids the correct way to behave. No loud theme songs, flashy graphics or repetitive phrases here – just a cute show based on a line of children’s books. My kids liked watching this DVD while I made dinner – a time I usually try to calm them down. It worked like a charm.

Episode Synopses:

Ruby Writes a Story/Max’s Dominoes/Grandma’s Attic

Ruby Writes a Story: Ruby needs quiet while she tries to write a story, but Max wants to play cowboy. Fortunately, he helps Ruby come up with the perfect idea for her story.

Max’s Dominoes:  Ruby and Louise want to earn their hospitality badge by hosting a Bunny Scout meeting. Meanwhile, Max and Morris are busy exploring the domino effect with a variety of toys culminating in a terrific welcome for Bunny Scouts.

Grandma’s Attic: Max & Ruby explore in Grandma’s attic. While Ruby is delighted to try on old clothes, Max finds an old chest that Grandma says nobody ever goes into. When he finds the key, they both get a surprise.

Bunny Cakes/Bunny Party/Bunny Money

Bunny Cakes: Ruby wants to surprise Grandma with an angel cake with raspberry fluff icing for her birthday. However, Max wants to make Grandma an earthworm cake with red-hot marshmallow squirters.  After a few mishaps in the kitchen and a few trips to the grocery store, Grandma gets both!

Bunny Party: Ruby is preparing a surprise birthday party for Grandma and she is invited all her dollies as guests. Meanwhile, Max things that some of his toy friends should also be at the party. It’s not long before Ruby discovers that there are too many guests and not enough chairs.

Bunny Money: Ruby has saved just enough money to buy Grandma a music box with skating ballerinas on top for her birthday.  She soon finds however that shopping with Max costs more than she planned.

Ruby’s Safari/Max’s Mud Bath/Max’s Lost Lizard

Ruby’s Safari: Ruby and Louise have to fill out the last page of their Bunny Scout Scrapbook. They decide to have a safari in the backyard to get a picture of a special creature. However, Max keeps leading them astray with his animal toys. In the end, his red rubber elephant attracts a hummingbird and the girls get their photo.

Max’s Mud Bath: Ruby and Louise set up their beauty shop again and want to give Max an all-natural treatment with crushed up fruits and veggies. However,  Max thinks the treatment looks quite tasty and would rather play in the mud.

Max’s Lost Lizard: Ruby and Louise are making a terrarium for the Bunny Scout chameleon, and Max is very interested in the “lizard!” When the chameleon escapes, Max is the only one who sees through its camouflage.  Thankfully, Max manages to help get it safely back in the girls’ finished terrarium.

Ruby’s Rainbow/Home Tweet Home/ Max’s Mudpie

Ruby’s Rainbow: Ruby wants to paint a perfect rainbow for Grandma but she can’t remember the colors or the order they go in. When Max says “Backyard,” Ruby says he can’t go outside because it’s raining. However when she finally follows him outside, she sees there’s a rainbow in the backyard.

Home Tweet Home: Ruby and Louise build a birdhouse. Max says “Hungry” so Ruby gets him a peanut butter sandwich, berries and sunflower seeds. When the birds don’t come near the birdhouse, Max uses the treats to attract the birds.

Max’s Mudpie: Max keeps trying to make a mudpie but Ruby wants to stay clean because Grandma is coming over and she’s got something very special. In the end, Max gets himself and Ruby mucky. It turns out that Grandma’s surprise is a double chocolate fudge treat she calls “Mudpie!”

*WE DID NOT RECEIVE MONETARY COMPENSATION FOR THIS POST. WE DID RECEIVE A COPY OF THE DVD IN ORDER TO FACILITATE OUR REVIEW. THIS WILL IN NO WAY SWAY OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCTS OR SERVICE. OUR OPINIONS ARE IN OUR OWN WORDS AND YOUR OPINIONS OR THOUGHTS MAY DIFFER.