This early reader book includes three short stories about Max the dog. Max talks back to the book when it says things he doesn’t like. The playful humor is just the sort of thing that delighted me as a child and still does as an adult. ( )

A funny, fourth-wall-breaking set of stories (See the Cat, See the Snake, See the Dog) in which the speech bubble text and illustrations actively disagree with the narrative text in a humorous way ("See the cat." "I am not a cat. I am a dog."); eventually the dog takes charge of its own story.

See also: This Is A Dog by Ross Collins, Valentine Cat by Claudia Rueda ( )

See the cat, says the text. Except the illustration shows a dog ... a dog who is very flustered about being labeled as a cat.

Thus begins this very humorous early reader. It turns the standard tersely worded beginning reader format on its head by defying expectations about what you as the reader "see." It is both metafiction *and* breaks down the fourth wall, with the dog speaking back to the text and affecting the story this way.

This type of humor will go over really well with young readers and to be honest, it made me laugh out loud reading it. This is definitely designed for youngsters starting to read on their own, but I think it would also make for a good read aloud with a practiced reader getting all into the exaggerated emotions of the dog. ( )

Can I describe this humorous beginning reader as being meta? The interactions between dog and text propel the plots of three chapters, each with a funny and satisfying ending, which is saying quite a bit about chapters in a beginning reader. At one point the dog edits the text to assure an ending to his liking. There is a sequel (yay!) called "See the Dog" and it's about...well, you know who. ( )

Hilarious. Also See the Dog