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Marley the Dog (I Can Read! series)

Marley: Marley's Big Adventure

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Marley loves to help his family, but sometimes Mommy, Daddy, Cassie, and Baby Louie don't want his kind of help! After a morning of slobbery wake-up calls, emptied-out dressers, and gobbled-up pancakes, Marley's family has had enough.When they put him in the backyard, Marley worries his family doesn't love him anymore. The world's worst dog makes a break for it—only to wreak havoc wherever his adventure takes him! The first in a brand-new series about everyone's favorite calamitous canine, Marley's Big Adventure is a sweet and hilarious addition to the I Can Read! library. Young readers will delight in reading about Marley's antics all on their own!

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 31, 2011

5 people are currently reading
104 people want to read

About the author

John Grogan

68 books1,198 followers
John Grogan has spent more than 25 years as a newspaper journalist. Previously he worked as a reporter, bureau chief, and columnist at newspaper in Michigan and Florida. He is also the former editor on chief of Rodale's Organic Gardening magazine. His work has won numerous awards, including the National Press Club's Consumer Journalism Award. His first book, Marley & Me, is a number one international bestseller that was as a major motion picture on 2008. His second book is The Longest Trip Home. John lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, Jenny, and their three children.

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5 stars
47 (33%)
4 stars
37 (26%)
3 stars
42 (29%)
2 stars
11 (7%)
1 star
5 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Mya.
1,506 reviews60 followers
September 9, 2019
This was a great kids books with very important morals tied to the story.
609 reviews12 followers
October 7, 2019
We just got a puppy and we needed this story (I guess myself, more than the family). Marley makes a mess at home and ends up in the backyard. He thinks he's not loved anymore and runs away. He causes an even bigger mess, ruining a whole business. Surprisingly, the business owner doesn't get upset and Marley's owner doesn't even offer to pay for the damage when he finds the scene.

I'm happy with the progress the little one is having with her reading. It's been a challenging journey, but she's getting there.
Profile Image for Prophet James.
10 reviews1 follower
September 29, 2022
Stunning adventure story with a beautiful message about being accepted by your family and experiencing unconditional love in the face of adversity (Marley is evidently a queer icon)
Profile Image for Alicia Evans.
2,412 reviews38 followers
December 24, 2012
Marley loves his family but he's not too sure that they love him anymore since he has a tendency to get into trouble and make big messes. He decides to run away and find people that love him, much to the distress of his family. Will they find each other again?

This book was a little weird. I can see how families with a puppy or with a difficult dog would benefit from the book because then they can talk about having unconditional love for their pet. However, the dog seriously caused problems in town and basically ruined a man's business. I think I just have problems with children's books that are meant to be realistic that then aren't anywhere near the mark. This, again, may not make young readers have any kind of pause, but it would have bothered me as a kid to think that everything could be magically fixed.
Profile Image for Lucas.
418 reviews
March 15, 2025
“I liked that Marley helped clean up his mess! I hope my doggies know I love them. My favorite thing was his fur.” - Luke
34 reviews
May 6, 2015
Marley's Big Adventure was a hilarious and heartfelt book that I really enjoyed reading. The illustrations are really beautiful, and accentuate the text perfectly. I really enjoyed this book because it actually has a storyline that is easy to follow, but also engaging for the readers. I really enjoy the character of Marley, and he is such a rambunctious dog that everyone can relate to. I feel as though all the trouble that Marley gets himself into just shows how much he is trying to help the family out, which is so fun to read. I think that all readers can relate to this book, and it will be a good read for anyone who decides to try it out.

I think that this book would be best for a transitional reader, probably around first grade, but depends on their skill level. I think that this book would be a wonderful independent read because of the lively pictures, and sentences that flow very well. This book has more text on it than a beginning book, but still will be easy to break down the words and decipher them. This book is full of adventures, that students will love to follow along with. I think that the characterization of Marley would work really well in the classroom, and the students would love to talk more about the mischievous Marley.

This book would be a really great book in any classroom, and is great because there are other Marley books that kids could read if they enjoyed this one. Another great literary element that could be tied in with this book would theme. Marley is only trying to help out, but he sure does get himself in a lot of trouble. I think that students would do a wonderful job of retelling this book to the class, and really learning how to summarize a transitional book. I also think that this book would be wonderful for a story theatre, and children would absolutely love acting out the scenes in this book to their classmates. I really think that this book has endless teaching possibilities, and should be one that all transitional readers give a try.
Profile Image for Mary Walling.
48 reviews
May 11, 2012
Children's Book Review- Marley's Big Adventure
Marley's Big Adventure
by John Grogan

Paperback, 32 pages
Published August 25, 2009
by HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0061853836
ISBN-13: 978-0061853838
Book Source: Bought
5 stars


Book Overview:
When Marley's family gets angry at him, Marley runs away from home. Who knew one little dog could get into such big trouble? Will Marley's family find him?


There's Daddy who Marley wakes up to early.
Along with sister Cassie and Brother Louie.
Let's not forget there's Mommy to
For Marley to help come unglued
.
Marley gets into way to much
Until the family has had enough
And Marley finally gets barred
To the family's fenced in backyard.

Marley didn't like this very much
And knew that he was in double dutch
So he decided to run away
by digging a hole under the fence that day.

Mary's Review:
See where Marley runs away to and how much his family misses and loves him. Marley learns not only about unconditional love from his family, but that others can be loving and kind. At the same time his owners learn how much they love Marley and that sometimes they need to be more patient, kind and understanding
The illustrations are fun and colorful and tell the story well for those who cannot yet read.
I recommend this book to ages 4 and up.


About the Author:
John Grogan is the author of the #1 adult bestseller Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog, which inspired the bestselling middle-grade memoir Marley: A Dog Like No Other and the #1 bestselling picture book Bad Dog, Marley! He is also the author of the bestselling A Very Marley Christmas, Marley Goes to School, and Marley and the Kittens. John lives with his wife and three children and their new dogs, Gracie and Woodson, in the Pennsylvania countryside.

" see full review at Little Red Reads" http://littleredreads.blogspot.com/20...



Profile Image for Margaret Chind.
3,213 reviews268 followers
November 13, 2014
Definitely we can always find Marley in trouble but he is always fun-loving too and it is my opinion this book has a hidden messages. While Marley is bad and gets into trouble repeatedly, his family still loves him and wants him around. A great early reader with some slight suspense and anticipation. An awesome opening for the Marley's Storybook Treasury: Marley's Big Adventure; Strike Three, Marley!, Marley and the Runaway Pumpkin; Snow Dog Marley; Thanks, Mom and Dad!; Marley: Messy Dog.
Profile Image for Genevieve.
92 reviews1 follower
April 26, 2015
This book was about...I don't know. It was about...I really don't know. Marley ran away because he thought that no one loved him anymore. It was an okay book, my favourite character was Marley well no one really because I don't know ... The book was just ok. I guess I'd recommend it.
Profile Image for Pinky.
7,057 reviews23 followers
February 15, 2022
Marley makes a mess at home and a bakery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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