MAX ... ATTACKS
by
KATHI APPELT
illustrated by Penelope Dullaghan
Children's Picture Book / Humor / Stories in Verse
Publisher: Atheneum / Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
Date of Publication: June 11, 2019
Number of Pages: 40
Scroll down for the giveaway!
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.
Max . . . Attacks, by Kathi Appelt is that summer book I've been looking for, and I want copies galore to give away to all my little friends and their harried parents, because it will definitely be good for some sweet snuggle and read in bed time. In fact, I need a hard copy to keep, because we are going through a "Max Attacks" episode of our own with our new little puppy who is being as much of a growing dog as Max is a growing kitten.
What I will say is that Max needs his day. In a big way.
I think if Max were to collect a "well wishes" jar, the main well wish for him would be: "We sincerely hope you do not get in trouble today, you naughty kitty!" or "When will you learn that a cat's job is to sleep all day. ALL day!"
Alas, Max does not have a steady stream of wise instruction and even if he did, I fear he'd get distracted by this and by that. These are lovely moments, for as I turned the pages I was definitely afraid for both Max and the lovely little fish he wants so desperately to attack. I won't give away anything else, other than to say: Parents of new and pre-readers, you need this sweet book. Not only does it help you remember your pet's behaviour is expected, it might also help you and your little one remember their behavior may not always be top notch either, but you still love them. That, to me, is the "Max . . . Attacks" take-away. Also, I absolutely loved the illustrations and color scheme.
Kathi Appelt is the author of the Newbery Honoree, National Book Award finalist, PEN USA Literary Award–winning, and bestselling The Underneath as well as the National Book Award finalist The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp, Maybe a Fox (with Alison McGhee), Keeper, and many picture books including Counting Crows and Max … Attacks.
She has two grown children and lives in College Station, Texas, with her husband and their six cats. She serves as a faculty member at Vermont College of Fine Arts in their MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program.
Penelope Dullaghan is an award-winning illustrator whose work includes illustrations for ad campaigns, book publishers, magazines, newspapers, products, videos and most recently, children. Max … Attacks is her debut picture book.
Penelope works from her home studio in Indianapolis, Indiana where she also home schools her daughter, plays in the river behind her house, and tends to her front-yard garden.
She is especially interested in collaborating with brands that support sustainability, simplicity, and wellness. Connect with Penelope on her Website.
The real Max was neither blue, nor did he have a switchy tail. In fact, he didn’t have a tail at all. He was an American Bobtail, almost fire red, and in his prime he weighed in at over twenty pounds. For seventeen years, he served as best friend and roommate to the author’s oldest son Jacob Appelt, who adopted Max from the local animal shelter.
Together they wrote music, traveled, entertained friends and family, and kept an eye on the neighborhood parrots. Even though Max was famous for attacking anything that moved, he was, and always will be, the biggest, sweetest cat ever!
And many thanks to Jacob for the line: “a mighty nap attacked our Max.” Best line in the book!
-------------------------------------
VISIT THE LONE STAR LIT TOUR PAGE FOR OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR
