Fish and birds and lizards and socks…is there anything Max won’t attack? Watch your ankles and find out in this clever, rhyming picture book about a very naughty kitty cat. Max is a cat. He attacks. From socks to strings to many a fish, attacking, for Max, is most de-lish. But how many of these things can he actually catch? Well, let’s just say it’s no even match.
I admit that I was sucked in by the cover for Max…Attacks by Kathi Appelt. Then I read the synopsis, and I knew that I had to read this for myself and for my 4 year old son. We were both delighted and entertained throughout this cute story. In fact, my son wanted me to read this book again right after we were done reading it the first time!
The plot for Max…Attacks if very simplistic yet fun. It’s an easy plot to understand for young children. Max is a cat how likes playing (attacking) everything in sight! It’s basically just a day in a life of a cat that children (and adults) will definitely enjoy with plenty of humorous moments!
The rhyming in Max…Attacks is done superbly and in such a fun way that makes it easy to read and understand. My 4 year old loved the rhyming throughout this book as did I. The easy language and rhyming help this book to flow smoothly. Sentence structure is fantastic.
The titular character of Max is one that children (and adults) will fall in love with. He’s easy to love, and he’s funny without even trying to be. My son and I laughed over and over at Max’s attacking adventures! We also the dog and even the goldfish in the book. Okay, we loved every character. It was hard not to. I believe Kathi Appelt captured a day in the life of a cat perfectly!
The illustrations for Max…Attacks were done beautifully yet simplistically. Penelope Dullaghan, the illustrator for this book, did an amazing job with the illustrations. They are vibrant, very colorful, and extremely fun to look at. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that the illustrations really helped to make Max…Attacks as great and as enjoyable as it is. The attention to detail in these illustrations is also spot on. Seriously, these illustrations are some of the cutest and most fun that I’ve seen in a children’s picture book in awhile. If you’re looking for a book that will hold even the most inattentive child’s attention, Max…Attacks is the book you need!
All in all, Max…Attacks is an incredibly fun children’s book to read as well as to look at. The amazing illustrations as well as the entertaining story will definitely thrill children and adults alike. I would definitely recommend Max…Attacks by Kathi Appelt to everyone no matter their age. If you are looking for books for a specific age group, I think this would appeal to children between the ages of 3 – 6 the most. Max…Attacks gets a solid 5 out of 5 stars from me and my son.
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(A special thank you to Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing me with an eBook of Max…Attacks by Kathi Appelt in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
This is a great book to read with a child. The rhymes by Kathi Appelt are whimsical and fun and that cat, Max is a real hoot. I love the way the illustrator, Penelope Dullaghan, represented him and his antics with her very original artwork. Max certainly reminds me of a kitty or two that I have lived with in the past. I highly recommend this book.
This is an adorable and absolutely delightful picture book that will entertain readers of all ages!
It is so obvious how attuned the author is to the dynamics of having a cat in the house, and through Max’s antics, these cat behaviors are showcased to a T! The illustrations work in perfect conjunction and add to the amusement, erratic movement, and always curious viewpoint that Max has with the world surrounding him.
The playful text is told through rhyming couplets and makes this a fantastic read-aloud option!
He’s full of gusto, full of steam.
He charges up the window screen.
And clings and clings and clings some more,
Then…
SCORE!
The considerable use of onomatopoeia greatly enhances the read-aloud experience, while the expressive illustrations beautifully capture the words in motion. The perspective of the illustrations changes as the story progresses, and combined with the text placement, type setting, and page design, this stunning visual interest that completely immerses readers into Max’s adventures.
This was a laugh out loud read that my kids asked for again and again, but they each also enjoyed reading it on their own in their individual way (a toddler, a preschooler, and a pre-reader). It was also completely satisfying for each of their ranging attention spans as well.
A remarkably well done children’s book that invites you to step inside and watch this feisty little kitty boy in action!
Many thanks to the author and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing me with a free book in exchange for my honest and thoughtful opinion.
Oh, that Max! He sure knows how to jump around from one silly caper to another, attacking so many things that catch his kitty cat eye.
Max…Attacks is a quick and cute story about a cat’s unending curiosity. In true feline fashion, the story jumps from one adventure to another in the blink of an eye. The rhymes are easy and catchy; however, some of the phrases and words may be beyond a really young reader/listener, such as gusto, licks his chops, and catnip, but what a fun way to learn new things!
The illustrations are large and vibrant, making them easy to comprehend yet still detailed enough to capture the imagination and elicit a few belly laughs at Max’s escapades.
Max Attacks is such a fun book and I wish I had a kid to read it to right now! I enjoyed Max’s antics because, well, he’s a cat and he does what cats do all day long – get into mischief.
The colors are bright and are perfect to hold the attention of a little one. The images also demonstrate action in Max’s daily escapades.
This is a story in verse which teaches children language and sounds and exposes them to poetry with simpler words and images they can understand.
This book would be perfect for any young child and we give it 5 paws up.