SYNOPSIS

When James and his mom prepare for a weeklong trip to the beach, Marvin helps his best friend pack. 

Marvin is sad to see his friend go but he can’t join him because, well, Marvin is a beetle.

In James’s absence, Marvin and his beetle family explore exciting parts of the house, like the pencil sharpener in James’s dad’s office.

Despite his fears, Marvin discovers James not only didn’t forget about him during his trip but even brought him back a present – a twisty shiny shell perfect for his size. 

What’s even better, while waiting for his return, Marvin has drawn James a picture, and James loves it. This really is the best of friendships! 

(1st in a 5-book series)

PERFECT AGE 7 – 10

THEMES

• Friendship, kindness, missing one’s friends
• Exploring new places and being brave
• Non-human creatures may have feelings and experiences, too!

We love

• Extremely accessible, yet not too basic, for early readers
• Tender story about an unusual friendship
• How very brave and rascaly Marvin’s cousin Elaine is
• The drawings!!!!

CONVERSATION STARTERS

• If you could have a non-human friend, what would it be and why?
• How did Marvin and Elaine manage to come out of the pencil sharpener? Do you think it would have been easier if they had worked independently?
• Have you ever worried about your friend replacing you with another friend? What did that feel like?