Max and Marla Are Going on a Trip

by Alexandra Boiger, Alexandra Boiger (Illustrator)

Overview

From the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of She Persisted comes a Max and Marla story about being present and appreciating the world around us.

School is out for the summer, and Max and Marla are off to Australia! Max has always wanted to see koalas, after all. He makes sure to pack his camera for the trip, so that he can capture every moment and remember this vacation. Off they head by air and by sea, with Max looking for just the perfect shot along the way. But when he keeps missing the amazing sights while focusing his lens, Marla knows that she needs to step in.

In this final story in the Max and Marla quartet, the two friends learn that being together and enjoying their trip makes for the best memories after all!

Praise for Max and Marla Are Going on a Trip:

"A delightful lesson in the joy of living in the moment." —Kirkus

"Tender and humorous . . . The underlying message to adjust some of our screen-centric habits in order to appreciate the natural world with open eyes and reverence is a plain truth with value for readers of all ages." —SLJ

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780525515708
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	06/16/2020
Series:	Max and Marla Series
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Alexandra Boiger (www.alexandraboiger.com) has illustrated nearly twenty picture books, including She Persisted and She Persisted Around the World, both by Chelsea Clinton; the popular Tallulah series by Marilyn Singer; and the Max and Marla books, which she also wrote. Originally from Munich, Germany, she now lives outside of San Francisco, California, with her husband, Andrea, daughter, Vanessa, and two cats, Luiso and Winter. Follow Alexandra on Instagram @alexandra_boiger.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Max and Marla Are Going on a Trip:

"A delightful lesson in the joy of living in the moment." —Kirkus

"Tender and humorous . . . The underlying message to adjust some of our screen-centric habits in order to appreciate the natural world with open eyes and reverence is a plain truth with value for readers of all ages." —SLJ

From the Publisher

05/01/2020

K-Gr 2—The darling duo Max and Marla embark on a summer adventure in the fourth installment of Boiger's delightful "Max and Marla" series. School is out, and Max and his owl friend, Marla, are considering great possibilities for the months ahead. The pair decide to head to Australia to see the koalas, and begin preparations and packing. Max hopes to see a plethora of animals as they travel through air, sea, and land. But on the trip, his focus remains on capturing images with his camera, depicted as a slim, black device, and he fails to notice the wonders appearing alongside them throughout the journey. When the camera accidentally drops into the ocean, Max's field of view widens, and their adventure truly begins. Boiger's watercolor and ink illustrations faithfully capture the tender and humorous moments between Max and Marla. The narrative's sweet tone lands gently, while offering practical advice for both real or imagined travel adventures. The underlying message to adjust some of our screen-centric habits in order to appreciate the natural world with open eyes and reverence is a plain truth with value for readers of all ages. VERDICT This pleasing and practical primer for young travelers is recommended for purchase.—Jessica Agudelo, New York P.L.

School Library Journal

2020-03-15
In this sequel to Max and Marla Are Flying Together (2019), best friends Max and Marla embark on a special summer adventure.

Max, an upbeat white boy, and his owl pal, Marla, plan a trip to Australia to “see all the animals along the way.” After ensuring his camera works perfectly to “capture every moment,” Max packs for their trip. Maneuvering their small plane, Max fails to see pelicans flying next to them because he’s fooling with his camera. (Hands-free laws seem not to apply.) At the boat dock, Max searches the sky with his camera, missing seals behind him. Rowing their boat, Max scans the distant ocean through his camera, missing dolphins leaping right around him. Max is clearly too engrossed in his camera to see the wonders all around, prompting wily Marla to surreptitiously take action. As a result, the two friends experience Australia “with their eyes wide open,” meet new friends, and see “wonders everywhere.” Gently humorous illustrations rendered in black outlines and soft colors chronicle Max and Marla methodically preparing for their trip, soaring high in their small plane wearing goggles and aviator helmets, stalwartly rowing their solitary boat with marine life teeming beneath, and joyously interacting with koala bears and kangaroos from the contrasting perspectives of intimate cameos and dramatic full- and double-page vistas.

A delightful lesson in the joy of living in the moment. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews