Max and Marla Are Going on a Trip

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.