Maxi the Hero [Mass Market Paperback]

Debra Barracca (Author), Sal Barracca (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1994 | Age Level: 4 and up

Maxi the taxi dog and his partner Jim, first introduced in The Adventures of Taxi Dog, once again make a virtuoso appearance in Mark Buehner's brilliant and joyous paintings depicting the warm and affectionate relationship between two best friends. How Maxi catches a purse snatcher and is proclaimed a hero makes this a rousing tale for all young readers. 28 full-color illustrations.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- Maxi the taxi dog returns for another rousing poetic romp through New York City. This is a day for rescues as he and Jim get a chef overburdened with spaghetti to a wedding and Maxi stops a purse snatcher to become Maxi, the Hero . The energetic verse is reminiscent of the work of R. W. Service with a similar sense of fun and appreciation of the working class. Buehner's bold and colorful oil-over-acrylic illustrations abound in delightful detail, including the illusive cat and bunnies from The Adventures of Taxi Dog (Dial, 1990). Clouds caper in the background, and a marvelous array of people on the streets employ and enjoy the sights, smells, and sounds around them. The checkered yellow borders around the white pages of text provide a cheerful connection to the illustrated cab and make for easy reading. This is a robust read-aloud with a wealth of visual appeal--don't expect it to sit on the shelf for long. --Jody McCoy, Casady School, Oklahoma City
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Maxi, the Taxi Dog (1990) again tours N.Y.C. His adventures, recounted in sprightly but rather forced verse and capped predictably by his chasing and capturing a thief, are unexceptional, but Buehner's vibrant paintings of the city and its inhabitants are observed with insight and a fresh eye; their lively detail is sure to hold attention. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (August 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140554971
• ISBN-13: 978-0140554977
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,605,003 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of our favorites...find the cat!, August 2, 2001

By 

D. J. Djay (Ridgefield, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Maxi the Hero (Mass Market Paperback)

4 ("and three quarters!") year old Maria and I love this book. It's one of our favorites. The illustrations are great, the rhymes are clever, and there is a cat to find in each picture!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-buy for readers who like New York City, or for readers who like the early artwork of Leonard Dufresne., May 1, 2010

By 

Tom Brody (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Maxi the Hero (Mass Market Paperback)

MAXI, THE HERO by Debra & Sal Barracca, and illustrated by Mark Buehner, is a 31 page medium format book. Every other page has an illustration, but there are three 2-page spreads with illustrations going all the way across. The entire story takes place in lower Manhattan, as is evident from the paintings of the Brooklyn Bridge, a street sign reading WALL STREET, another street sign reading HOUSTON STREET, the Flatiron Building, and the Chrysler Tower. Houston Street is distinguished by the fact that it is at the northern border that defines the SoHo district ("South of Houston") where all the art galleries are found.

The story takes place over the course of one day, in the manner of ULYSSES by James Joyce. But there, the resemblance ends. The first illustration shows Jim the taxi driver waking up, while his dog fetches Jim's cap. The plot consists of various adventures, some mild (one passenger is a chef carrying a platter bearing a mountain of spaghetti & meatballs), some wild (the dog races after a purse-snatcher and nabs him). The story concludes with an evening scene, showing an illuminated grocery with a row of out-of-doors flowers for sale, and with the elevated train whizzing overhead with the windows illuminated.

The text takes the form of clumsy poetry. The couplets all rhyme, but the couplets do not scan well. There is no attempt at any consistent meter. It is not certain to this reviewer if the failure to write the rhymes in any particular meter was intentional or not. At any rate, I would prefer that the writing be free of any consistent meter. On the other hand, this IS a book for little kids. Hence, in view of the fact that the authors had intended the couplets to rhyme, I would have made every attempt to put the couplets in, e.g., iambic pentameter or iambic heptameter.

The highlight of the book is the illustrations. They are a wonder to behold. They are in a realistic style, but not in the sharp-edged, super-realistic style used in children's books by David Wiesner (TUESDAY) or by Jan Brett (OWL & THE PUSSYCAT). I prefer Marc Buehner's style of art. Mr.Buehner discloses buildings and skyscrapers basking in the golden glow of the setting sun. His clouds are intentionally shaped like animals. Every one of his illustrations has a hidden black cat. Children will delight in trying to find the black cat. In one picture, the cat is just a blurry shadow on a window blind. In another picture, the black cat is tiny in the distance. The style of the art is somewhat like the early paintings of Leonard Dufresne, a New York artist. Dufresne's early paintings are all painted from the perspective of somebody lying on the floor, or with an exaggerated vertical dimension. Unfortunately, Mr.Dufresne's web site seems only to have his recent paintings, which don't quite have the charming simplicity of his previous paintings from the early 1980s. Marc Buehner uses both of these techniques -- perspective of somebody lying on the floor, and an exaggerated vertical dimension, especially as it applies to taxi cabs.

Any person who has kids, or who has an interest in New York City, or both, will be proud to own all of the books in this series of stories about a taxi dog.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get the whole series!, March 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Maxi the Hero (Hardcover)

The "Maxi" books are a wonderful series for girls and boys. Our daughter first fell in love with the taxi dog and his friend Jim when she was 4. Don't miss out on all three books in this series: "The Adventures of Maxi," "Maxi The Hero" and "Maxi The Star" (when he goes to Hollywood to shoot a commercial). Great art work accompanies the fun stories.