A beginning reader in three short chapters offers humorous metanarrative elements as a dog, speaking in dialogue bubbles, argues with the book being read. The first chapter begins, "See the cat." In the accompanying illustration, which shows no cat, the dog responds: "I am not a cat. I am a dog." The narrative text adds a descriptor with each page turn (the cat is blue, it wears a green dress, is known as Baby Cakes, and rides a pink unicorn), all as the dog becomes increasingly incensed. Then two wordless spreads show a unicorn entering the scene, ridden by a cat. With a turn of the page the narrative reads "See the red dog." "I am so embarrassed," says the dog. When the second story opens with "See the snake," the dog laments "Here we go again." This time he takes charge by editing the text with pencil. In the final story, the dog claims his full agency by identifying identifies the text's vulnerability: "If I leave this book, no one will want to read it." The interplay of the patterned text and conversational dialogue bubbles is both predictable and fun. (Ages 4-7)

Winner of the 2021 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award

Move over, Spot. . . . Spoofing classic primers, Max the Dog talks back to the book in a twist that will have fans of funny early readers howling.

See Max. Max is not a cat—Max is a dog. But much to Max’s dismay, the book keeps instructing readers to “see the cat.” How can Max get through to the book that he is a DOG? In a trio of stories for beginning readers, author David LaRochelle introduces the excitable Max, who lets the book know in irresistibly emphatic dialogue that the text is not to his liking. Illustrator Mike Wohnoutka hilariously depicts the pup’s reactions to the narrator and to the wacky cast of characters who upend Max’s—and readers’—expectations as the three stories build to an immensely satisfying conclusion. Hooray, Max, hooray!