Two Black Cats and a Dog Named Max – Bob Johnston, illustrated by Chloe King ($24.99)
reviewed by Louise Ward, Wardini Books
Max is a black and tan dog who lives with Mrs Dinwiddie and Chit and Chat, the two black cats, in a little house high on a hill. As a beautiful sunny day dawns, Mrs Dinwiddie decides they should all go to the river for a picnic, so they pack up, and off they go.
After a marvellous time, Mrs Dinwiddie and the cats curl up for a snooze and Max, being a curious pup, decides to explore. There's a beautiful double spread of him sniffing, chasing and rolling, evoking the sort of joyous, in the moment behaviour that anyone who has ever met a dog will recognise.
Mrs Dinwiddie and Chit and Chat wake up to find Max missing and think they'll more than likely meet him at home. Meanwhile … Max is so busy having his adventure that he fails to notice how much time has passed, and isn't quite sure in which direction the little house high on a hill lies.