Claude At the Beach

by Alex T. Smith

Overview

When Mr. and Mrs. Shineyshoes leave for the day, their dog Claude and his sock puppet sidekick, Sir Bobblysock, head out for a seaside vacation. From Alex T. Smith's hilariously illustrated early chapter book series.

Claude and Sir Bobblysock hit the beach for some fun. But it doesn't out to be as peaceful and relaxing as they'd hoped for! They rescue a man from a shark, win a sandcastle-building competition, and hunt for pirate treasure. What a wonderful day!

Quirky, delightfully odd, and positively surreal, Alex T. Smith's beloved Claude series promises fits of giggles for readers transitioning from picture books to chapter books. Two-color illustrations throughout.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682632376
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	04/14/2020
Series:	Claude , #3
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	96
File size:	57 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	7 - 9 Years

About the Author

Alex T. Smith briefly considered careers in space travel, cookery and being a rabbit, but finally decided to become an illustrator. He earned a first-class honors degree in Illustration from Coventry University 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.

Editorial Reviews

"A fun choice for children who enjoy absurdist humor, but probably best as a read-aloud." —School Library Journal

"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." —Kirkus Reviews

"Humorous red-accented illustrations, an amusing storytelling style, and quirky plots will continue to delight Claude's fans." —The Horn Book Guide

From the Publisher

06/01/2014
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 à 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

School Library Journal

2014-02-19
This early chapter book is often hilarious, but it should not be used as an instruction manual, as Claude the dog is not much of a role model. No matter what Claude the dog does, if a band of pirates invites them to search for buried treasure, readers should think twice before going with them. Even his sidekick, Sir Bobblysock, thinks this is a dubious proposition. And readers packing for a trip to the beach probably would not want to bring whipped cream, a lampshade or sticky tape. (The tambourine, however, is very useful.) Admittedly, Claude ends up having a terrific time. He saves a man from a shark, collects a hatful of gold and jewels, and looks very stylish with whipped cream on top of his head. But Claude is also the sort of dog who can pull off a beret and a red sweater. (Smith's pink and gray, retro-modern illustrations are charming.) Most dogs wouldn't look nearly as good. Readers willing to go with Claude's flow will enjoy reading this third adventure on the beach or on a hidden desert island, as well as more pedestrian places. 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. (Fiction. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews