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Max Spaniel
Max Spaniel: Funny Lunch
A hysterical lunchtime adventure from Bestselling author/illustrator David Catrow.
David Catrow's loveable spaniel is back! Readers will dine with delight as Chef Max serves up one hysterical meal after another at his very own diner. New readers will laugh-out-load as Max's pizza pie special creates one wacky lunchtime.
David Catrow's loveable spaniel is back! Readers will dine with delight as Chef Max serves up one hysterical meal after another at his very own diner. New readers will laugh-out-load as Max's pizza pie special creates one wacky lunchtime.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
David Catrow
85 books71 followersDavid 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)
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)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 18, 2019
I wish there were more Max Spaniel books. As far as I know this is the second of only two. This easy reader is fun, and since it’s catrow, you know the illustrations are amazing, and do half the work of telling the story. This time, Max is a great chef. Hat and all. His speciality is Pizza. But order a hot dog. I dare you.
May 4, 2018
This is a funny book for newly independent readers to enjoy, especially if they love animals. Only a few words per page and lots of enjoyable colour illustrations, and with a simple but entertaining storyline about Max Spaniel's adventures as a chef.
August 24, 2021
This series of books is pretty weakly written. They are fun enough, but it almost seems like they wrote the book and then removed every other sentence. Some of the sentences don't connect with previous or following thoughts that well.
January 6, 2019
I think children will find this comical.
March 8, 2022
I like the illustrations but the story made no sense- "chef" Max messes up an order for pizzas so he goes out and buys them- huh?
November 10, 2022
My students were highly entertained by this book. I loved reading it to them thrice!
Bravo David Catrow!
Bravo David Catrow!
August 29, 2017
Very funny and good book. This book is about a dog that thinks he is not a dog... he is a chief. He is very busy trying to make pizza's and it gets a little out of hand. He has his friend along the way and he helps him. This book shows children that things can get tough and crazy but at the end of the day you can still have fun with it.
February 6, 2014
Horn Book (Spring 2011)
In his second story, dog Max Spaniel becomes a "great chef," but when a tour bus driver orders "one hundred pizzas with everything," Max knows he's in over his head. The humorous text with numerous puns is easy to read. Zany, exuberant watercolor illustrations expand the story, showing Max's chaotic kitchen and pizza problems.
School Library Journal (July 1, 2010)
K-Gr 2-This second installment in the early-reader series is laugh-out-loud silly. Max comes from a long line of chefs and embraces the role at the diner where he works with his feline pal. He pushes the special of the day, pizza pie, but has no takers. When chili is ordered, Max delivers a scarf; a hot-dog order is filled with a panting dog and a fan. Finally a busload of people order 100 pizzas with everything to go, and the chef is unable to deliver. Dog and cat hop on a tandem bike and head to the local pizza shop, returning loaded with steaming hot pies. In the end, the customers leave happy and the two friends can finally sit down for a satisfying and well-deserved lunch break. Catrow's watercolor illustrations are exuberant and clever, full of humorous details that kids will love to discover. The typeface and sentence lengths suggest a low-level early reader, but the absence of clear picture clues makes this best for shared reading practice.-Heather Acerro, Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, IN Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.
In his second story, dog Max Spaniel becomes a "great chef," but when a tour bus driver orders "one hundred pizzas with everything," Max knows he's in over his head. The humorous text with numerous puns is easy to read. Zany, exuberant watercolor illustrations expand the story, showing Max's chaotic kitchen and pizza problems.
School Library Journal (July 1, 2010)
K-Gr 2-This second installment in the early-reader series is laugh-out-loud silly. Max comes from a long line of chefs and embraces the role at the diner where he works with his feline pal. He pushes the special of the day, pizza pie, but has no takers. When chili is ordered, Max delivers a scarf; a hot-dog order is filled with a panting dog and a fan. Finally a busload of people order 100 pizzas with everything to go, and the chef is unable to deliver. Dog and cat hop on a tandem bike and head to the local pizza shop, returning loaded with steaming hot pies. In the end, the customers leave happy and the two friends can finally sit down for a satisfying and well-deserved lunch break. Catrow's watercolor illustrations are exuberant and clever, full of humorous details that kids will love to discover. The typeface and sentence lengths suggest a low-level early reader, but the absence of clear picture clues makes this best for shared reading practice.-Heather Acerro, Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, IN Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2010
This second Max Spaniel book offers mayhem and fun with a pizza theme. Max is not a dog, he is a chef! He and his cat friend have a restaurant where they serve pizzas. When one customer refuses the special and orders chili instead, he is given a scarf, hat and mittens. When another orders a hot dog, a panting dog with a fan is served. Trouble arrives by bus with an order of 100 pizzas with everything! Max cannot make pizzas that fast and ends up with a mess instead. Luckily great pizza is only a phone call away. Even better, Max got to enjoy the pizza too.
Catrow successfully mixes very simple beginner reader words with pictured filled with funny details and merriment. The jokes are classic and there are some that only those looking at the pictures will find. Catrow’s watercolor illustrations ooze giggles and laughs as well as pizza sauce and cheese. They add another dimension of fun to the book. The relationship between Max and his cat friend is a good one that plays out primarily in the illustrations.
A frolic of an easy reader, this book will be enjoyed by young pizza and dog lovers. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Catrow successfully mixes very simple beginner reader words with pictured filled with funny details and merriment. The jokes are classic and there are some that only those looking at the pictures will find. Catrow’s watercolor illustrations ooze giggles and laughs as well as pizza sauce and cheese. They add another dimension of fun to the book. The relationship between Max and his cat friend is a good one that plays out primarily in the illustrations.
A frolic of an easy reader, this book will be enjoyed by young pizza and dog lovers. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
July 14, 2010
This is the second in the series. I have not read the first, but I look forward to reading it with kids in the Kindergarten where I volunteer next spring. Although not an I can read, I'm sure lots of kids will decode it and I think they will love the humor of chili dogs, hot dogs, and the rush to Joe's for the had tossed leaning towers of pizza. I'll see how long it takes to get Dinosaur Hunt from the public library.
January 3, 2012
The book I'm reading is Funny Lunch.
If you like fiction you will like this book.
This book is about a dog that makes pizzas.
This is a fiction book because dogs don't make pizzas.
He goes around and asks if anyone wants the pizza of the day.
Everyone says no.
I think the author wrote this book to entertain.
I would recommend this because it is funny.
You can find this fiction in the library.
Morgan!!!!!!
If you like fiction you will like this book.
This book is about a dog that makes pizzas.
This is a fiction book because dogs don't make pizzas.
He goes around and asks if anyone wants the pizza of the day.
Everyone says no.
I think the author wrote this book to entertain.
I would recommend this because it is funny.
You can find this fiction in the library.
Morgan!!!!!!
June 25, 2013
Slightly less funny than Dinosaur Hunt and Best in Show, contrary to what I expected, but still a good read. Fantastic illustrations.
June 23, 2011
Max is not a dog... o.k. yes he is still a dog, but in this adventure he is also a great chef! Same silly characters you can always expect from David Catrow. Makes for a fun book to share with your little ones.
January 26, 2012
In this book a dog named Max Spaniel gets costumers in his pizza place, but nobody wants to try the special. Then there is a big mess so Max and his friend go to Joe's Pizza Palace. Then they take them back to Max's Pizza Place. I really, really, REALLY liked this book. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2012
This book is nice & short, funny and has great pictures. Max is not a dog...he is a chef. & he has some pretty big orders to fill. Can he do it, or will his restaurant be a picture in the dictionary next to EPIC FAIL? Only time will tell...possibly best told around a box of pizza. =)
August 9, 2012
Max has decided he is a great chef in this Max Spaniel adventure. He is cooking up pizzas and messing up lunch orders in an Amelia Bedelia manner. As usual, Max sorts it all out in the end for a fun and happy ending.
September 4, 2013
This is a very silly book about a dog who wants to be a chef. He is very creative when his customers say they don't want the special and when he messes up on the big order. This book would be wonderful for young children with wild imaginations.
April 17, 2014
I love the zany humor in this book for little ones!
"A tummy growls. I growl back!"
"Chili for me! So, bring him a scarf!"
In this restaurant if you don't like the special, you seem to be out of luck! Wacky and full of fun!
Read again on April 17, 2014.
"A tummy growls. I growl back!"
"Chili for me! So, bring him a scarf!"
In this restaurant if you don't like the special, you seem to be out of luck! Wacky and full of fun!
Read again on April 17, 2014.
April 5, 2010
A hilarious romp through lunch with funny cartoonish illustrations, lots of puns and a simple narrative that's perfect for beginning readers. Our girls really enjoyed this story.
May 13, 2010
A cute book!
November 23, 2010
Max Spaniel is chef at his own diner, where he serves up one hysterical meal after another.
Max is so adorable I just want to take hime home with me!
Max is so adorable I just want to take hime home with me!
November 6, 2010
Not as fun as the fist one, but still AWESOME.
Read
May 20, 2011Max is at it again - making a mess and scaring other animals! He's not a dog - he's a chef. This book will get kids giggling at watching two animals trying to make pizzas!
August 1, 2011
Another cute book by David Catrow featuring the antics of Max. Love the illustrations on the end papers!
August 7, 2011
I loved Dinosaur Hunt, but I didn't like this one as much. It was still a funny and great book to share with young children and the Max Spanial chraracter is still very entertaining.
February 3, 2016
I love Max Spaniel! He's so cute!
October 9, 2011
This book is about a Spaniel dog named Max that is trying to whip up a pizza pie for lunch today. His silly way of doing this will make the kids laugh. Good book for preschool and kindergarten.
January 26, 2012
In this story, Max Spaniel is a chef who specializes in making pizzas. The story is pretty funny at times. The illustrations are really adorable. We really enjoyed this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2012
Very engaging even my 10 year old wanted to hear the story :)
December 9, 2012
The kids seem to think it was really funny.....
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews