Looking for a hilarious children’s chapter book for your independent reader? How about a read aloud bedtime story with short chapters and a few illustrations for your young reader? What if you finally discovered a series that didn’t rely on fart jokes or poor language but still entertained? If you’re still reading, Max E. James was written for you.

Max E. James can hardly wait for a fun-filled day at the beach with his big brother Cody. The boys will build sand castles, trap crabs, and maybe even bodyboard. But wait—what about that time last summer when Max was bodyboarding, and got totally body-slammed?! Does he even want to chance another face-crushing, sand-in-his-teeth disaster, just for riding a wave?