MAX, A LITTLE AXOLOTL #1, by Joey Spiotto, Graphix, Sept. 2, 2025, Hardcover, $24.99, Paperback, $12.99 (ages 7-10)
A rescued little axolotl learns about friendship and nature conservation in Max, a Little Axolotl a graphic novel by Joey Spiotto.
Meet Max. He’s new to school and just a little bit shy, but he’s already making waves.
It’s Max’s first day at Coral Elementary school. The school is filled with marine animals, like dolphins, crabs, and octopus. But none of the other students have ever seen an axolotl before… and they have SO MANY QUESTIONS. Where did Max live before? Is it true he can regrow any of his limbs? What happened to his old friends?
This is too much attention for Max! Hiccup! Uh-oh… Max gets the hiccups when he’s nervous. Can this little axolotl adjust to his new underwater school or will the pressure just be too much? —Synopsis provided by Graphix
Max, a Little Axolotl is a sweet, little character that emerging readers are going to love. This hiccuping axolotl can even regrow parts of his body. There’s a charm to Max that kids will immediately be drawn to. And they’ll relate to first day of school jitters, too. The illustrations are charming and the story is one readers can easily follow. And, at just under 130 pages, and broken into chapters, it’s an accessible read, even for the most reluctant readers. This is the first book in a planned series that is sure to be popular.
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