Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
A beetle and a boy share a friendship in sweet stories.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In the MARVIN & JAMES series, Marvin the beetle lives with his family under the sink in his friend James' house, unbeknownst to James's parents. James keeps secret his friendship with the beetle who rubs his legs in ink to make drawings, finds lost treasures, and occasionally needs human help to survive. Marvin's family warns him to be careful about getting caught by other humans, but the two friends manage to have sweet interactions, fun adventures, and genuinely care for each other -- even if Marvin can't speak to James.
Is It Any Good?
These easy chapter books are gently sweet and funny, and might help young readers build confidence in their social interactions. The Marvin & James series focuses on the sometimes complex emotions of friendship (no matter if you're human or insect), but the illustrations, plot ,and vocabulary make this great for early readers. The series spells out simple lessons that can take the anxiety out of friendships: that friends are friends even if they are separated for a while, and that making a friend happy can make you happy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how both Marvin and James help each other out: Even though Marvin is tiny, he helps James in surprising ways. How do smaller or younger people help those older or bigger than them?
Is a friendship between a person and an animal or insect realistic?
What other books have you read about friendships between humans and animals?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Kelly Murphy
- Genre : For Beginning Readers
- Topics : Adventures , Animals ( Bugs ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Square Fish
- Publication date : October 20, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 9
- Number of pages : 128
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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