Reviews

Maximillian Villainous by Lesley Breen Withrow, Margaret Chiu Greanias

kelleemoye's review against another edition

4.0

Maximillian’s story primarily focuses on someone being different than their family and how expectations set by others in the family may not fit what another person excels at. As a teacher, I wish I could read this book to so many people because I really struggle with parents and educators expect a kid to be a certain way because they know a sibling or a family member. That isn’t how it always works. I think this same theme could be used to talk about how expectations have to be differentiated in general, so I could actually see this story being used to talk to evaluators, leaders, etc. to talk about why Maximillian needed a change of assessment instead of the same as everyone else. Underlying, the message is that we can’t expect anyone to be anyway. Let them show you who they are and accept and love them as they are.

And all of these deep messages are within a funny story with fun illustrations about a monster who loves his bunny even though he is expected to be a villain.

Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=16964

beths0103's review against another edition

4.0

Poor Maximillian doesn't seem to fit in with his family's villainous ways. When his parents give him an ultimatum, he manages to find a way to be villainous in his own kindhearted way.

panda_incognito's review against another edition

5.0

This exceptionally well-plotted picture book checks off all the boxes for good storytelling, has a great twist, and delights in every way.

koby's review against another edition

3.0

Cute book about a young monster in a long line of villains who doesn't have an evil bone in his body, to his family's dismay, but finds a way to live up to their name regardless.

debnanceatreaderbuzz's review

4.0

Maximillian's family is disappointed in Max's level of villainousness, especially when he decides to get a rabbit as a pet. The family forces him to do some villainous deeds to save the family name. And Maximillian cleverly outsmarts them.

This story is filled with clever wordplay and fun illustrations. I especially reveled in the unexpected ending.