Max Spaniel: Best in Show

Max Spaniel

by David Catrow

Come to the funniest dog show ever in the next Max Spaniel adventure: BEST IN SHOW!

David Catrow's lovable spaniel is back, and this time he enters a dog show. Max competes in a diving contest, a barking contest, and a talent contest. Will he be best in show?

Readers will laugh out loud as Max outperforms all the other contestants. In the end, all the dogs are best in show, and they put on their own performance for the audience.

Genres: Picture Books, Dogs, Childrens, Juvenile, Humor, Animals, 1st Grade

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

David Catrow's favorite subject in school was math. Why? Well, Mr. Hirsch's class was where Catrow did some of his best drawings! Catrow's zany illustrations have illuminated over 30 books for kids, and his editorial cartoons are syndicated in more than 900 newspapers in the U.S. and Canada. Not bad for someone who started out as a pre-med major at Kent State and later worked as a paramedic for ten years. During this time Catrow also worked as a freelance artist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Akron Beacon-Journal. Art finally emerged as his definitive career, and he's never stopped since.

This amusing illustrator and his wife, Deborah, live in Ohio and have two children. When asked what would be the one thing he would like to learn to do, Catrow replied that he'd like to learn to catch a Frisbee with his teeth! It's this same offbeat sense of humor that truly colors his art. There's no doubt that Catrow's work has brought chuckles, smiles and even smirks to the young and old.

(Scholastic authors)

Reviews

[Laela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third in the series, and Max is back with more awesome adventures. This time Max and his friends put on a talent show. Max Spaniel has the life I think my dog dreams about. Mr Catrow's drawings will keep everyone entertained, and giggling all the way to the end.

[Reading With Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max Spaniel and his dog friends Spot, Fifi, and Buster participate in a talent show, and each of their unique personalities comes through in the incredibly detailed and hilarious illustrations. This series will never fail to entertain!

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max is a special dog with amazing and unusual talents.
Great illustrations.

[Lara Samuels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will be a great read aloud and the artwork is wonderful!

[CaliNativeBalboa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to my spaniel mix Sabrina. It was an inspiring message but the illustrations were really goofy and kind of disturbing.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our favorite in this series.

[Julia Jasztal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mommy's review from 12/13/11 -


3.5 - Another book fair find at Julia's school. I love Scholastic! They really know how to bring good, fun, sometimes educational books to kids and not break the parents wallets.
We noticed a couple of nights ago, after we'd read this, that a Christmas book we'd pulled out had been illustrated by Catrow. Merry Un-Christmas is the book and Julia pointed out that the dog in both books is the same! The dog is based off of Catrow's own dog, Bubbs. He even includes a picture of himself and Bubbs in the back and readers can see the resemblance between Max Spaniel and Bubbs. Too cool!
As far as I know there are only two other Max Spaniel books, Max Spaniel: Dinosaur Hunt and Max Spaniel: Funny Lunch and this is the third one. I can't see how they'd have to be read in order because I didn't think we were missing anything but we're going to order the others, most definitely the dinosaur one.
The "Spaniel L. Jackson" was a nice laugh and it's just a really cute book. I can't say I'm talking about it all over the place. I can't say it's worth running out to buy them all. But it's worth reading and from the illustrations here and in the one linked above I can say Catrow's pretty darn good at what he does.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Max Spaniel series by David Catrow. The funny little dog and his friends have a ball at the dog show. The illustrations are riotous and the narrative is simple and fun. We enjoyed reading this story together.

[Joenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max Spaniel outperforms all of the other entrants in a dog show.

I love everything about this series- the humor, the illustrations, and of course, Max. This book is seriously hilarious-Max's star cousing is Spanial L. Jackson. A great book to share with a child because of all the humor.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3rd in the Max Spaniel series. Overall, not as funny as the previous 2, but still a great book, especially for those readers just moving from picture books to easy readers. Recommended for grades 1-3.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny illustrations (what else would you expect?) and more of a plot than some readers. The publisher designated it as a pre-k to 1st grade level, but the choice and variety of vocabulary as well as the use of contractions make me think it would suit 1st and 2nd grade better.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another series that enthralls my 7 year old. Thanks to the youth librarians at the Waterloo Library for finding these for me. After the Elephant and Piggie series, I was worried we wouldn't find another series that keeps me so entertained.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

No review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful. Young students will love all of the antics of the dogs, but especially Max Spaniel

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright vivid fun entertaining pictures in this easy to read story that readers are going to enjoy.

[Zoey · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was alright. it was kind of funny and he had funny faces.

[Shannon D. Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peyton LOVED this book! Corky, cute art & the vocabulary was challenging, but not overwhelming.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max fans will like this one.

[Bear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome illustrations as usual. A fun read for adults and little ones.