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Max Attacks
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.
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2019
1 person is currently reading
238 people want to read
About the author
Kathi Appelt
55 books549 followersLives in College Station, TX with husband Ken and four adorable cats.
Two sons, both musicians.
Serves on the faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts in the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program.
Two sons, both musicians.
Serves on the faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts in the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
October 7, 2020
A day in the life of a cat.
December 21, 2019
Max Attacks - Kathi Appelt, Penelope Dullaghan Max is a fierce cat. Max is blue, which is never remarked upon. I am in favor of a world in which cats can go around being primary colors without comment.Library copy
October 11, 2019
Max the cat is on the attack. Fish, the dog, shoestrings, socks...what will Max attack next?
A fun story of Max on the prowl.
A fun story of Max on the prowl.
June 16, 2019
Max was a cat with paws made for pouncing, legs built for trouncing, and a heart bent on attack. His fascination with the fishbowl remained a constant in his day, although other matters - the lizard climbing the blinds, the string attached to one of his human's shoes - also provided entertainment. In the end, his attack on his piscine neighbors was messy but not entirely triumphant. Fortunately, he had a bowl of crunchies to turn to...
I found Max Attacks an absolutely delightful picture-book, appreciating both Kathi Appelt's playful text and Penelope Dullaghan's droll artwork. The poetic text - "In a bowl of water brimming... / Fishes! / Lots of fishes swimming. / Max's paws are made for pounces. / Max's legs are made for trounces. / Like a dozen kitty wishes, midst the bubbles swish the fishes" - makes for an excellent read-aloud, while the colorful, expressive illustrations capture the humor and motion of the tale. Recommended to all young cat lovers - I definitely recognized a few felines I have known in Max! - and to anyone looking for entertaining new tales in rhyme for the picture-book set.
I found Max Attacks an absolutely delightful picture-book, appreciating both Kathi Appelt's playful text and Penelope Dullaghan's droll artwork. The poetic text - "In a bowl of water brimming... / Fishes! / Lots of fishes swimming. / Max's paws are made for pounces. / Max's legs are made for trounces. / Like a dozen kitty wishes, midst the bubbles swish the fishes" - makes for an excellent read-aloud, while the colorful, expressive illustrations capture the humor and motion of the tale. Recommended to all young cat lovers - I definitely recognized a few felines I have known in Max! - and to anyone looking for entertaining new tales in rhyme for the picture-book set.
June 7, 2019
“He wants to eat the fishies” – Hank, 4 years old. Yep that’s my son getting into and enjoying books that I read to him. I love to read. And I super love that my son loves books too.
I enjoyed reading this one twice in one day – first for me – then for my son. Max Attacks is about a super feisty feline who wants to attack everything that catches his eyes. Socks and strings. Especially the fish!
Max Attacks is told is cute and catchy rhymes and is a story that is fun to read aloud! The illustrations are adorable and really portray Max as kitty full of energy and sass.
My son rates it two thumbs up!
I enjoyed reading this one twice in one day – first for me – then for my son. Max Attacks is about a super feisty feline who wants to attack everything that catches his eyes. Socks and strings. Especially the fish!
Max Attacks is told is cute and catchy rhymes and is a story that is fun to read aloud! The illustrations are adorable and really portray Max as kitty full of energy and sass.
My son rates it two thumbs up!
September 26, 2019
It is clear the author and illustrator are cat people. So accurate!
August 22, 2020
Just love this book. The flow is great - it's so much fun to read aloud to my daughter.
June 13, 2019
Sweet children's book about a naughty cat. VERY relatable. Page turner as you fear the trouble Max will get into. He just can't seem to help himself. I want to give this to every family with little ones who also has a new pet!
Here is the review from my Blog: 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.
Here is the review from my Blog: 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.
June 21, 2019
(This review can be found on my blog All the Ups and Downs.)
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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.)
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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.)
July 22, 2019
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.
June 19, 2019
A distractible cat with an insatiable desire to attack will be familiar to many with mischievous pets of their own. Worriers may be on the edge of their seat wondering if the unsuspecting fish will make it to the end.
July 9, 2019
Ha-HA! This spirited cat tries his best to grab and eat the fish in the fishbowl, only to be deterred (yup, that word’s in the book!) by a lizard, a catnip bird and a loose shoelace. The words and illustrations capture the impulsivity of this feisty kitty purrr-fectly! (C’mon, how could I resist?)
July 18, 2019
An adorable blue cat with black stripes romps through this book, destruction in his wake. Every time he decides to go after the fish in the fishbowl, something else distracts him. There is a very funny view of Max's head magnified by the fishbowl. Cat lovers and owners will recognize this hyper-active kitty's antics. Great, humorous illustrations in acrylics and charcoal.
May 13, 2019
The cat lover in me gives this a 4.5
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August 8, 2019rhyming, cats
March 28, 2022
Delightful, put a smile on my face!
June 18, 2019
This book is adorable. Yes, it's for kids, but the cover lured me in and I had to read it. Max attacks everything, and then a nap attacks Max! Perfect book for kids, or anyone who loves cats.
February 2, 2021
This cat lives at my house. His name is Kitty and he is very annoying. He's always attacking while I'm napping.
September 11, 2019
Max's real name is Bruce. And he lives at my house. The end is wrong though, because he ends this sort of a day curled up and purring on my lap.
The text runs smoothly and rhythmically, and the artwork is full of action. My only quibble is that Max is BLUE, and he should be a handsome BROWN tabby!
The text runs smoothly and rhythmically, and the artwork is full of action. My only quibble is that Max is BLUE, and he should be a handsome BROWN tabby!
October 11, 2019
3.5 stars--I know this cat...and he lives at my house! Those who share their life with an especially wild tiny tiger will appreciate MAX ATTACKS. From socks to food to curtains, what will Max attack next?
June 18, 2019
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.
June 18, 2019
Thank you to @blue_slip_media and @barbfisch for sharing the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Meet Max! He’s full of curiosity and mischief as he prowls through the house making one discovery after another, even though his main objective is, and always will be, the fish bowl! BUT there are just so many tempting things to grab his attention first. Can Max really be expected to ignore a lizard crawling up a window screen, a dangling shoe lace or a basket of dirty socks? They are calling his name and then there is that fish bowl…
You will delight in the antics of this bright blue cat with black stripes. Penelope Dullaghan’s illustrations help us understand exactly what’s going on in Max’s mind. She has given Max such an expressive face, especially his eyes. My favorite page shows us his satisfied expression after attacking those dirty socks and winning, 91 - 0. And the language is fun too. It often rhymes and introduces some intriguing words you can talk about with your little one.
This book, which is available now, is one that definitely needs to be on your TBR list. And if you’re a cat lover, it will be even more fun!
Meet Max! He’s full of curiosity and mischief as he prowls through the house making one discovery after another, even though his main objective is, and always will be, the fish bowl! BUT there are just so many tempting things to grab his attention first. Can Max really be expected to ignore a lizard crawling up a window screen, a dangling shoe lace or a basket of dirty socks? They are calling his name and then there is that fish bowl…
You will delight in the antics of this bright blue cat with black stripes. Penelope Dullaghan’s illustrations help us understand exactly what’s going on in Max’s mind. She has given Max such an expressive face, especially his eyes. My favorite page shows us his satisfied expression after attacking those dirty socks and winning, 91 - 0. And the language is fun too. It often rhymes and introduces some intriguing words you can talk about with your little one.
This book, which is available now, is one that definitely needs to be on your TBR list. And if you’re a cat lover, it will be even more fun!
January 19, 2021
Max loves to attack things. Fishes, lizards, birds, socks, trainers…nothing is safe from Max and his paws. Max would love to get his claws on those de-lish fish swimming in the tank, the only problem is Max gets very distracted. Will Max get the fish he so desperately craves…
This is a funny story that follows Max as he attacks various things within the house. The loveable blue cat with black stripes starts out by staring at the fish in the fish bowl but is soon pulling down curtains, attacking catnip birds, flinging socks around and swinging from shoe laces. As Max goes about his antics a funny score count is introduced. After landing the curtains on the dog the scrolling reads, “Max, one, dog, none.” And so this continues throughout He finally manages to focus long enough to confront the fish but readers need not fear as the fish survive a rather humorous and wet encounter.
Told in delightful rhyming prose and with lively and bright illustrations this is a read that cat lovers will really enjoy and they will no doubt be able to relate their own experiences of owing cats with the behaviour of Max.
Recommended for 4+.
This is a funny story that follows Max as he attacks various things within the house. The loveable blue cat with black stripes starts out by staring at the fish in the fish bowl but is soon pulling down curtains, attacking catnip birds, flinging socks around and swinging from shoe laces. As Max goes about his antics a funny score count is introduced. After landing the curtains on the dog the scrolling reads, “Max, one, dog, none.” And so this continues throughout He finally manages to focus long enough to confront the fish but readers need not fear as the fish survive a rather humorous and wet encounter.
Told in delightful rhyming prose and with lively and bright illustrations this is a read that cat lovers will really enjoy and they will no doubt be able to relate their own experiences of owing cats with the behaviour of Max.
Recommended for 4+.
June 24, 2019
Pitter patter, my heart does shatter with yearning for more of this catescapade. The illustration work on Max...Attacks is beautiful and the rhythmic flow was inspiring (as you can see above my attempt of a flow), lighthearted and flowed methodically. Max...Attacks reminded me of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, in the fact that it seemed to always be building and expanding as you grew deeper into the story and were kept trying to out guess what would come next. Max was a fun character to follow.
Everything from the simple strokes to the pops of color created brought this storyline to another level. The coloring of the cat really brings this story to life and draws you into his adventure. The color will catch your child's eye and the prose will keep them glued.
Everything from the simple strokes to the pops of color created brought this storyline to another level. The coloring of the cat really brings this story to life and draws you into his adventure. The color will catch your child's eye and the prose will keep them glued.
July 20, 2019
Calling all cat lovers, word wizards and those who love captivating illustrations - this is the book for you. Max is a cat who likes to attack! The day begins with Max spying and getting ready to attack a bowl of fish - but wait there's a lizard on the screen, dangling shoelaces and a basket of socks that sidetrack Max from his initial quarry throughout his day. Finally Max is able to try and capture those delicious fishes with a predictable surprise. Kathi Applet has written a fun wonderful book that could be used as a mentor text for vocabulary and rhyming. The illustrations by Penlope Dullagham are colourful and amusing and allow us to see different perspectives depending where Max is in the house. Cat lovers - you will enjoy and connect to the antics of Max.
November 3, 2019
Max is a very busy kitty. He really wants to pounce on the fishes but keeps getting distracted - the Gecko on the wall, the basket of socks, his catnip mouse, a shoelace, even his food bowl - the fishbowl is safe for one more day.
Kathi Appelt's rhyming text keeps the pace quick and a bit frantic. Dullaghan's terrific illustrations are all over the pages (just like a cat), sometimes Max is in the center looking through the fishbowl, other times he's in the corner hiding under the couch or only his paws are on the page because he's about to pounce. A delightful and happy read, this is a joyful and fun book for every cat lover.
For this and more of my reviews, visit http://kissthebook.blogspot.com . CHECK IT OUT!
Kathi Appelt's rhyming text keeps the pace quick and a bit frantic. Dullaghan's terrific illustrations are all over the pages (just like a cat), sometimes Max is in the center looking through the fishbowl, other times he's in the corner hiding under the couch or only his paws are on the page because he's about to pounce. A delightful and happy read, this is a joyful and fun book for every cat lover.
For this and more of my reviews, visit http://kissthebook.blogspot.com . CHECK IT OUT!
April 1, 2025
Cute, but hmmm. Active cats like Max need excersises like a human playing with them with a wand toy, daily. Wish the book could take a moment to teach kids about playing safely with a cat - with a wand toy, so there's dictance between the child and the cat.
Yeah, this Max cat has a lot of energy and cats like that need playtime. Very sad that the cat was ruining the house because all that pent up energy. I bet Max woke everyone up 6 am sharp crying that he can see the bottom of his bowl even if it wasn't yet empty.
The art was cute and the kids like it probably, but my inner cat rescuer side was pretty upset at not taking a moment to get the cat some toys to use up some of his energy, most people do not understand cats.
Yeah, this Max cat has a lot of energy and cats like that need playtime. Very sad that the cat was ruining the house because all that pent up energy. I bet Max woke everyone up 6 am sharp crying that he can see the bottom of his bowl even if it wasn't yet empty.
The art was cute and the kids like it probably, but my inner cat rescuer side was pretty upset at not taking a moment to get the cat some toys to use up some of his energy, most people do not understand cats.
June 12, 2019
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 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.
June 10, 2019
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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews