The Miniature World of Marvin and James by Elise Broach and illustrated by Kelly Murphy

The Miniature World of Marvin and James (Masterpiece Adventures, Book 1) by Elise Broach and illustrated by Kelly Murphy. Henry Holt and Co., 2014. 112 pages.

• Reading Level: Chapter Books (ages 4-8)
• Recommended for: Ages 4-8

Marvin, an artistic beetle, and James, a human boy, first appeared in Broach’s well-received middle grades novel Masterpiece and formed one of the many lovable, but unlikely friendships peppering the literary canon.  In this early chapter book, James is headed to the beach for a family vacation; Marvin is left at home, missing James and forced to play with his cousin Elaine. Adventure and near-disaster strike when Elaine and Marvin discover the electric pencil sharpener, an intriguing (but dangerous) hideout for small beetles. James brings home a safer hideout at the end of the story, demonstrating to Marvin that he didn’t forget about his small friend while he was away. Large font, vivid illustrations on every page, and a simple plot make this a good fit for new readers looking to build their reading confidence.

Cautions: none

Overall Value: 3.5 (out of 5)

• Moral/worldview value:  4
• Artistic value: 3

Categories: Chapter Books, Animal Stories, Character Values

An advance copy of this book was received from ALAMidwinter for a fair review.
Cover image from amazon