Trouble at school for Marvin & James
(Book)

The pair of unconventional friends--human boy James and beetle Marvin (The Miniature World of Marvin James, rev. 5/14; James to the Rescue!, rev. 9/15)--share another adventure when James tucks Marvin into his pocket to go with him to school. Marvin is especially enthusiastic about meeting the blue-haired art teacher, Mr. Chang, who tells the class, There are no mistakes, just happy accidents, words that Marvin has taken to heart in his own artwork. The story is told from a present-tense beetles-eye point of view, and its all fun and games until cafeteria time, when Marvin accidentally winds up in the garbage. Broach writes short, punchy sentences (The sneeze sweeps Marvin into the air. He is turning over and over in the wind, when he lands on a cafeteria tray. Ow!), and the type is large, so although the book is over one hundred pages long, it will be accessible to children making the transition from easy readers to chapter books. Murphys lively pen-and-ink drawings in shades of orange and brown add to the entertainment and will assist new readers in figuring out meaning. More than slapstick adventure, this series revolves around a warm, supportive, and trusting relationship between a boy and a beetle. susan dove lempke (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.