I Am Max: Based on Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

by Astrid Holm

The Dr. Seuss holiday classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas is now a major motion picture from Illumination Presents - Dr. Seuss' The Grinch!

Grow your heart three sizes and get in on all of the Grinch excitement with this board book based on the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Perfect for the youngest Dr. Seuss fans--especially little dog lovers!

The story of how the Grinch almost stole Christmas as told by his canine companion, Max! Written in simple rhymed verse, this sweet, sturdy board book is an ideal introduction to the story and a perfect gift for toddlers and preschoolers too young for the classic picture book. Now everyone in the family can have a merry Grinchmas!

Genres: Christmas, Holiday, Childrens, Picture Books, Kids, Dogs, Animals

26 pages, Board Book

First published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good to read if you have read how the Grinch stole Christmas to your kids. Good fit for kids 3-6 yr olds.

[Sharon🔮👽 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend and I found this in Sam’s Club and it was too cute not to read!

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

We all remember how mean the Grinch was to his dog, Max, before his heart magically grew on Christmas morning, but this story takes place after the Grinch's conversion. In this story, the Grinch is a nice guy who plays with, walks, and cares for Max. It's appropriate for the board book set. While these "Seuss-inspired" books lack the magic of the originals, at least they feature hand-drawn artwork, and not "updated" CGI junk.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t even start to explain how happy this book makes me. The kid in me screamed when I saw it.

This short kids book is from Max’ perspective after The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Basically it’s about Max and the Grinch’s relationship.

The writing and rhyming was spot on and the illustrations made me smile so much.

Highly recommended for any fan of The Grinch or fun kids Christmas books.

[Kevin Donato · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adorable board book retells the familiar story of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but this time through the eyes of his loyal dog, Max. Instead of focusing on the Grinch’s grumpy scheming, the story lets readers experience the holiday chaos from Max’s perspective as he follows his owner through Whoville and into their not-so-jolly plan. Told in simple, playful rhyme, it captures the spirit of the original while making it accessible for very young readers.

I really enjoyed this sweet little book. Seeing the world through Max’s eyes added a fun and heartwarming twist to a story I already love. Max’s observations make the Grinch’s actions feel less mean-spirited and more curious, especially as he tries to understand why Christmas is being taken away. The tone is gentle and playful, and Max’s loyalty shines through on every page.

The sturdy board-book format makes it perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, and the rhyming text keeps it engaging without being overwhelming. It’s a great introduction to the Grinch for kids who are too young for the full picture book, and it’s especially charming for dog lovers. Overall, this book is a delightful, cozy way to share a classic holiday story with little ones—and a fun reminder that even the grumpiest Christmas tale can feel warmer when told by a good dog. -5 Stars!

[Gmr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of the Grinch’s little unwitting cohort and long time companion….Max! You know...the cute little doggo that dons the reindeer antler in order pull the seriously overweight sleigh in a misguided attempt at stealing Christmas? Yep, that’s the pup! Max is here to tell us that while yes, the Grinch wasn’t always a happy fellow to be around, ever since that magical day, he’s been a delight! They play together, eat together, and just plain have fun together in more ways than ever before. It’s a delightful treat that pays homage to the original story, while letting readers back into Mt. Crumpit territory with characters we all know and love. You might find your own heart growing a size or two in delight!

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max gives an abbreviated retelling of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and then describes his life with the new happy Grinch.

Readers who worried about how poorly the Grinch treated Max in the original story will be relieved to learn that the Grinch is a much improved pet owner.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who doesn't love Max in The Grinch? He is the unsung hero. And so I loved seeing Max being "the protagonist." What would have been cooler would have been if this board book had been "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" but ENTIRELY from Max's perspective.

It definitely became a story about friendship. Which I guess is good too ;)

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, but a bit of a letdown. Instead of telling the story of attempted Christmas-theft from Max's point of view, it's more of just a......"dog's life" book. The plot of the original book/film are covered, but it's clearly long ago for Max and now things are just hunky dory all the time. The end.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Seuss’s story of the Grinch’s puppy, Max, after the Grinch understands Christmas. A super simple board book written as only Dr. Seuss could and delightfully illustrated! Good for all of Dr. Seuss fans, a pure delight to read!

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very simple story (this is a board book) that provides a heartwarming follow-up to Dr. Seuss's classic story. I'll be honest, I never thought much about what happened to the Grinch and Max after the story ends, but it was nice to see that they are both very, very happy!

[Jenny Lindquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is super cute and great for toddlers who don’t have the attention span to sit through the book ‘How the grinch stole Christmas.’ It is written from the Max’s point of view. We loved it as a Christmas Eve bedtime story.

[Michelle Kilgallon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to my two month old and my nine year old (he listened from a distance). As a grinch loving family I thought it was a cute little book from Max's perspective. My baby looked at the bright colored pictures instead of looking around.

[Alexis R. Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children love Max, I think creating a book specifically for the dog, Max, was a perfect choice.
We love all Dr. Suess books and this one was just as cute! We enjoyed the rhyming and the riddles!— perfect addition to reading alongside ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’

[Jocelin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am sure that this book is a movie tie-in for the animated film "The Grinch". It's a little corny,but it has a sweet element to it.

[Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not all about Max and you don’t really learn anything about him, it’s still nice for a child who likes the Grinch movie.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A holiday romp with the reformed Grinch.

[Orion Kopf · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreadful

[Alison]

Very cute rhyming story! My nephew loved it!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute board book that is a great way of introducing Max, the Grinch's dog to new readers. It is based off the original How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The illustrations are the same too. Wonderful.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute! This gives a voice to the Grinch's dog Max. I have always wondered what he was thinking. Considering his facial expressions, I had some idea, but this book helped too.

[Lucas Wooten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not that much about Max, but a good story. My daughter loves the Grinch movies, books, and characters.

[Jasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
As a Grinch fan & a new Dog mom, I absolutely love this book 😊

[Lily Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing, adorable, no notes

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable!

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don’t waste your money! Wait and get the real thing!

[Eric Keegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable Dr. Seuss book about how Max enjoys the Grinch’s company after he becomes happy, enjoying Christmas and the people of Whoville.

[Guthrie Veech · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read at Martinsville, IN, Fairy Tales

[Brystal Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book to read during the holidays!

[TJE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute for grinch lovers 1-3 yrs old