Myra here.
It’s Monday, What are You Reading is a meme hosted by Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers (new host of Monday reading: Kathryn T at Book Date). Since two of our friends, Linda from Teacher Dance and Tara from A Teaching Life have been joining this meme for quite awhile now, we thought of joining this warm and inviting community.
Just a few days ago, I shared a post on pets as portals to fantasia – consider this the second part of that post. It does look like 2019 was a good year for pets in picturebooks – and bravery and going beyond one’s self.
Max And Marla Are Flying Together [Amazon | Book Depository]
Written and Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger
Published by Philomel Books (2019)
ISBN: 0525515666 (ISBN13: 9780525515661) Borrowed through Singapore NLB Overdrive. Book photos taken by me.
I did not realize that this was part of a series, this being the third and latest. I am a fan of Boiger’s art, and this is a great addition to her growing bibliography: a sweet tale of a young boy named Max and his pet owl who refuses to fly.
I like how the story only focused on these two characters; adults are totally absent in the narrative. While Max and Marla are portrayed to be the best of friends, they have very different ideas of what it means to do something exciting. Max was determined for them to ‘fly’ together, while Marla was perfectly fine staying indoors.
A sudden wind, however, forced Marla to cling tight to the windblown kite – with Max excitedly waving from the ground. This is a lovely story about warm friendship, courage, patience, and taking flight.
Truman [Amazon | Book Depository]
Written by Jean Reidy Illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers (2019)
ISBN: 153441665X (ISBN13: 9781534416659). Borrowed through Singapore NLB Overdrive. Book photos taken by me.
Truman’s Sarah is devoted, kind, and quiet. They usually spend hours together – just doing things that a girl and her tortoise usually do.
That is, until Sarah packed a huge backpack, wore her new sweater, gave Truman two extra beans, and boarded the number 11 bus going south. As Truman waited patiently for his human, it seemed like Sarah would never ever return.
Truman gathered all of his courage, and decided to remove himself from the safe confines of his glassy home to find his Sarah. Very reminiscent of Toy Story, this story stands apart with Truman’s devotion and Sarah’s affection shining through. A lovely story that would be great for a read-aloud.
Gathering Books 
Ah those books look so good and I love the Max and the owl one.
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I love both these books. I believe there is a new Max and Marla book coming out this year.
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I don’t know the ‘Max and Marla” books at all, Myra, but loved Truman. Thanks for the sharing!
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I loved Truman so much and my students did too. It got a fair amount of votes in our school’s Mock Caldecott.
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I loved Truman! After going to my library in search of Max And Marla Are Flying Together, I discovered that it is on order but they have the previous tales. I might have to settle for them while I wait.
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Your books look good. My weekly update
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Max and Marla looks so good, and well, so does Truman!!
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Truman is such a treat!
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Truman looks so CUTE! I just know my 5-year-old is going to love it. Thanks for the shares, Myra!
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