"Food for thought"

Thanks to the Children's Literature web site for reviewing "Bad Dog Max!"

The full review is available on the Barnes and Noble web site at the Bad Dog Max! page, however the full database of Children's Literature reviews are available only by subscription (you can sign up for a free 7-day trial here.)

Children's Literature - Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

Our young narrator is concerned because Max, the dog, is always getting into trouble. Each double page shows Max doing something else wrong, making mommy, daddy, the neighbors, the mailman, even the cat, call her a "bad dog." But when the vet explains that dogs like Max have "lots of energy" and need long walks and playtime, everyone finds that Max can be a good dog, at least most of the time. Max clearly dominates each scene, with Haskamp supplying just a few contextual details to set the stage for the misbehavior. The acrylic paintings lack detail in their simplicity, but Max's emotions are clearly visible, particularly her eyes. The spare, simple text in large type offers food for thought about misbehavior of more than just young dogs. 2003, Chronicle Books, Ages 3 to 6.