Claude at the Beach (Claude)

by Alex T Smith (Author) Alex T Smith (Illustrator)

Claude at the Beach (Claude)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Series: Claude

Claude is no ordinary dog - he leads an extraordinary life!

Claude and his best friend, Sir Bobblysock (who is both a sock and very bobbly), pack their bags and go on vacation to the beach. They rescue a man from a shark, win a sandcastle-building competition, and hunt for pirate treasure. Of course, they make it back home just before Mr. and Mrs. Shinyshoes come home from work.

Quirky, delightfully odd, and positively surreal, Alex T. Smith's illustrated early chapter book series promises giggle-filled bedtime reading and a laugh-out-loud option for readers transitioning from picture books to chapter books.

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School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—Claude is a stylish dog who tucks handy supplies under his beret and goes on adventures with his animated sock friend, Sir Bobblysock. He decides he needs a vacation, so he packs a suitcase with useful items (whipping cream, lampshade, slightly squished sandwiches) and heads to the beach. He and Sir Bobblysock rescue a swimmer from a shark, win a sand castle contest, and team up with pirates to search for treasure. Just as rival pirate Naughty Nora appears and the situation looks dire, the contents of Claude's suitcase provide an unexpected solution. At first glance, the book looks like a beginning reader with its limited color palette, illustrations in the style of Mr. Peabody and Sherman, and repetitive cadence ("Claude is a dog. Claude is a small dog. Claude is a small, plump dog"). However, vocabulary like "baguette" and "skedaddled" and Claude's attempt to order ice cream in French ("Excusez-moi, 'ave you une glace a flavor of juicy bone?") make the book more advanced that it would seem at first. A fun choice for children who enjoy absurdist humor, but probably best as a read-aloud.—Suzanne Myers Harold, formerly at Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"This early chapter book is often hilarious... Smith's pink and gray, retro-modern illustrations are charming... Readers who take it too seriously might end up like Claude, floating in the middle of the ocean, wearing baggy underpants (held together with sticky tape) and pursued by a shark-but they'll be laughing."
Alex T Smith
After briefly considering careers in space travel, cookery, and being a rabbit, Alex T. Smith finally decided to become an illustrator. He earned a first class honors degree in illustration and went on to create the award-winning Claude series which has been developed as an animated TV show. When he isn't doodling in his sketchbook, Alex can be found people-watching and eavesdropping. He lives in England with two very tiny and naughty dogs. Follow Alex on Twitter @alex_t_smith and visit him on the web at www.alextsmith.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781561459193
Lexile Measure
790
Guided Reading Level
O
Publisher
Peachtree Publishing Company
Publication date
April 20, 2016
Series
Claude
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV002070 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dogs
JUV044000 - Juvenile Fiction | Readers | Intermediate
Library of Congress categories
Humorous stories
Dogs
Beaches
Socks

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