In Weekends with Max and His Dad, an appealing series debut by Linda Urban (A Crooked Kind of Perfect; Hound Dog True), father and son navigate the unfamiliar waters of mom-less togetherness on three consecutive weekends. Amid the fun of playing spy, pizza and pancakes, Urban adeptly gets to the heart of things, mirroring the sensitive nine-year-old's emotions--from "low-down and blue" to giddy joy--with clarity, compassion and humor. Max's new double-household life entails a few hassles, including having to tag along for double the errands, and "Max would rather be in jail than go shopping. In jail you could sneak a spoon out of the cafeteria and dig a tunnel and escape. There was no escape from the grocery store." Still, father and son are so obviously fond of each other, the future bodes well for an ever-evolving relationship that's surely full of sleuthwork, singing and silliness.
Katie Kath's sketchy, pen-and-ink illustrations (also seen in Kelly Jones's Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer) add warmth to an already winning story. --Karin Snelson, children's & YA editor, Shelf Awareness