Max and Marla Are Having a Picnic

January 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 1-This sequel to Max and Marla celebrates spring as the boy and his owl friend diligently prepare for a picnic by the lake. The menu includes cheese and a baguette and Grandma's gugelhupf. Marla's assistance is spotty as she keeps getting into tight spaces, but once she dons her red bonnet for their bike ride, readers anticipate "the best picnic EVER." After setting up, Max leaves Marla to secretly gather a bouquet for her; but as she naps, a scurry of squirrels steals a good part of the feast. Max is annoyed and he and Marla refuse to even look at each other, but after cooling off at home, Max begins to miss their evening rituals, so he gathers some yard flowers for his friend and they raid the refrigerator together for a snug indoor picnic. There are many cozy scenes, like the pair tossing up the picnic blanket, and tiny but plump Marla balancing on Max's feet. Each cartoon block is simple perfection, such as Boiger's foreshadowing of the squirrel invasion. VERDICT A gentle lesson on dealing with adversity and celebrating friendship. Perfect for a spring- or a picnic-themed storytme.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2018
A much-anticipated, carefully planned outing turns into what seems to be a disaster for two close friends.Max is depicted as a brown-haired, sweet-faced white child, big enough to ride a two-wheel bike, while Marla looks like a small gray-and-white barn owl. Boiger's partly Photoshopped ink-and-watercolor art depicts interior moments and landscapes in gentle hues of green, blue, and gray. The pair plans a first-of-spring outing with a picnic: potato salad, cheese and baguette, "and Grandma's special cake: a gugelhupf"--mixed and baked by Max with some extra breaking of eggs. Max pedals the bike, and Marla, sporting a wide-brimmed hat, perches in the basket--everything's off to a good start. When Max goes to gather flowers and Marla falls asleep, however, a scurry of squirrels help themselves to the picnic. Though Max is upset, perhaps even angry, readers are given room to interpret and understand how each character feels: "Marla and Max don't feel like staying any longer. They don't even want to look at each other." Even very young children will recognize the way that expectations can rush out in front of an experience and contribute to disappointment. A nighttime picnic on the bedroom floor is cozy and friendly--and a saving moment for the friendship. Simple and emotionally resonant. (Picture book. 2-6)

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March 12, 2018
In the second gentle outing featuring Max (a child with a mass of red hair) and Marla (a white owl), the two spend the day picnicking in the mountainous meadowland near their home. As Max picks wildflowers for Marla (and Marla takes a nap on their blanket), readers will observe squirrels descending on the picnic to feast on the cake, fruit, and bread. Max sees the squirrels, and the day seems ruined: “Marla and Max don’t feel like staying any longer. They don’t even want to look at each other.” At home, the bad feelings linger, until Max—dressed in footed pajamas—makes a conciliatory gesture and the two enjoy an indoor picnic. Boiger’s watercolor scenes are filled with small, endearing details that suggest a world in miniature. With subtle emotion, she expresses the negative feelings that can stew between friends following a disappointment. The absence of any adults—or anyone else, for that matter—gives these two characters a sweetly appealing independence. Ages 3–5. Agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt Agency.