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Margaret Chiu Greanias
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Maximillian Villainous Hardcover – Picture Book, August 28, 2018

4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 77 ratings
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For anyone who loved Leonardo, the Terrible Monster,this is a humorous and important picture book about learning to follow your heart and proving that kindness can outweigh villainy any day.

Maximillian Villainous is a monster who doesn't have the heart to be a villain. His famous family play tricks on Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy, and Max spends his time undoing them. So when he brings home a pet bunny to be his sidekick, Max's disapproving mother hatches a plan. She challenges Max and the bunny to become a devious duo; otherwise . . . the bunny hops. If they want to stay together, Max and the bunny have no choice but to go against their good nature. They blunder into villainy with comical effect until Max discovers that embracing his good heart may just be the key to pulling off the most devious deed of all and winning his family's acceptance.

Delightfully fun and irreverent, Maximillian Villainous is an empowering story about embracing one's true self and finding acceptance. Up and coming illustrator Lesley Breen Withrow brings the characters to life with bold and colorful illustrations in a style reminiscent of Richard Scarry.
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    4 - 8 years
  2. Print length
    40 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 3
  5. Dimensions
    10.5 x 0.5 x 11.25 inches
  6. Publisher
    Running Press Kids
  7. Publication date
    August 28, 2018
  8. ISBN-10
    0762462973
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0762462971
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A clever, surprising ending..." -Publishers Weekly

"Withrow presents Max and his family as colorful, mismatched, Where the Wild Things Are-style monsters. Despite their fearsome reputations, they're more cuddly than scary, making this tale a treat for all ages.―Booklist

"It is pretty silly to see how Max's latest attempts at villainy fail.... Pair with Amy Dixon's Maurice the Unbeastly or Mo Willem's Leonardo the Terrible Monster for a fun storytime about misunderstood monsters."―School Library Journal

"This is a great story for younger student to encourage good deeds and show how these deeds can lead to a reward. Older students would also benefit from this lesson being delivered in such a fun way."―School Library Connection

About the Author

Margaret Greanias was inspired by her children's love of the Despicable Me movies and all things Minion when writing Maximillian Villainous, her debut picture book. She lives with her husband, three children, and a fluffle of dust bunnies in the San Francisco Bay area.

Lesley Breen Withrow is the illustrator of several picture books, including You're My Boo by Kate Dopirak and Bunny Bus by Ammi-Joan Paquette. Her artwork can also be seen on many products, including stationery collections and children's games, toys, and apps. Lesley lives on beautiful Cape Cod with her family, a couple of crazy cats, and her daughters' large and ever-growing collection of stuffed animals.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Running Press Kids (August 28, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0762462973
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0762462971
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 8 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.32 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.5 x 0.5 x 11.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 77 ratings

About the author

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Margaret Chiu Greanias

Margaret Chiu Greanias

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Margaret Chiu Greanias is the author of How This Book Got Red, Hooked On Books, Amah Faraway and Maximillian Villainous. The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, she grew up in New York, Texas, and California, while her Amah lived faraway in Taipei. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, three children, and a fluffle of dust bunnies.

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9 out of 5
77 global ratings
Will Max Follow His Family Into Villainy Or Follow His Heart?
5 Stars
Will Max Follow His Family Into Villainy Or Follow His Heart?
Parents naturally want their children to follow in their footsteps. Max Villainous belongs to such a family. Sometimes, their children want to forge a different path in life. Max, tired of the pranks his family pulls on Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and Mother Nature doesn’t quite have the heart to be a villain.One day, Max finds a bunny. Bunny’s as sweet as can be so although Max is enamored with him, Max’s mother delivers three villainous options for Bart and Max to carry out or Bart is history. Read this endearing read to find out how Bunny and Max satisfy Max’s family and stay true to themselves at the same time.Favorite Line- “Thirteen generations of first-class villainy wiped out by a bunny,” . . .Withrow’s illustrations are big, bold and expressive. The characters jump out on the pages, which include many two-page spreads. The Villanious family portraits are child-friendly and detailed.
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Top reviews from the United States

Joan R
5.0 out of 5 stars Adot=rable Book
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2023
Verified Purchase
Maximillion is such an adorable book! It is a book they will want to read over and over again. Max has a heart of gold and tries his hardest to be a villain like his family members. You will have to read to find out the rest. Truly a book for every bookshelf!
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Sharon Coffey
5.0 out of 5 stars Will Max Follow His Family Into Villainy Or Follow His Heart?
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2018
Verified Purchase
Parents naturally want their children to follow in their footsteps. Max Villainous belongs to such a family. Sometimes, their children want to forge a different path in life. Max, tired of the pranks his family pulls on Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and Mother Nature doesn’t quite have the heart to be a villain.

One day, Max finds a bunny. Bunny’s as sweet as can be so although Max is enamored with him, Max’s mother delivers three villainous options for Bart and Max to carry out or Bart is history. Read this endearing read to find out how Bunny and Max satisfy Max’s family and stay true to themselves at the same time.

Favorite Line- “Thirteen generations of first-class villainy wiped out by a bunny,” . . .

Withrow’s illustrations are big, bold and expressive. The characters jump out on the pages, which include many two-page spreads. The Villanious family portraits are child-friendly and detailed.
Customer image
Sharon Coffey
5.0 out of 5 stars Will Max Follow His Family Into Villainy Or Follow His Heart?
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2018
Parents naturally want their children to follow in their footsteps. Max Villainous belongs to such a family. Sometimes, their children want to forge a different path in life. Max, tired of the pranks his family pulls on Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and Mother Nature doesn’t quite have the heart to be a villain.

One day, Max finds a bunny. Bunny’s as sweet as can be so although Max is enamored with him, Max’s mother delivers three villainous options for Bart and Max to carry out or Bart is history. Read this endearing read to find out how Bunny and Max satisfy Max’s family and stay true to themselves at the same time.

Favorite Line- “Thirteen generations of first-class villainy wiped out by a bunny,” . . .

Withrow’s illustrations are big, bold and expressive. The characters jump out on the pages, which include many two-page spreads. The Villanious family portraits are child-friendly and detailed.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Kind and Clever: Everything a children's book should be.
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2021
Verified Purchase
In order to convince his villainous mom to let him keep his new pet bunny, Max must 1. Steal something 2. Make someone cry and 3. Gain fame by being devious. Well he does steal (hearts), make someone cry (happy tears) and gain fame by deviously (and kindly) outsmarting his parents. This is a great book to encourage kindness and a really excellent book to start a discussion with children who feel different.
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Dawn Y
5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable and clever!
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
Maximillian Villainous is a wonderful story about being different! I love how Max tries to please his family and prove he can be devious but how every time he tries to do something villainous his sensitive side comes through, and he remains true to who he is.
The clever language and wordplay make this book so fun to read. The thread of holidays throughout makes the story even more appealing. The ending is brilliant. The illustrations are adorable, making the most villainous characters lovable.
This one is a favorite in our house.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars We LOVE this book!
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2018
Verified Purchase
After this book arrived my 8 year old son couldn't wait to read it. The cover was so colorful and inviting. He sat down and started reading it and was laughing out loud. He loved it. I read it and loved it too. I enjoyed all the funny puns throughout and the sweetness of the story. The illustrations were amazing and reminded me of Richard Scarry. Looking forward to the next book by Margaret. Characters would make a charming tv series!
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Jared Brandyberry
5.0 out of 5 stars One that we read over and over!
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2022
Verified Purchase
This is a favorite in our house - one of the few stories that both the kids AND the parents enjoy reading over and over again! The playful illustrations are a perfect addition to the read-aloud language.
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GirlsWhoWearGlasses
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story with gorgeous illustration
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
I very much enjoyed this story to my nieces and nephews and my little dogs, too (one of whom looks a bit like Maximillian Villanous himself). A sweet tale of finding a way to belong while remaining true to one's values. The negative turns into a positive here in a way readers of all ages can appreciate. The bright, whimsical illustrations are a joy.
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GirlsWhoWearGlasses
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story with gorgeous illustration
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2018
I very much enjoyed this story to my nieces and nephews and my little dogs, too (one of whom looks a bit like Maximillian Villanous himself). A sweet tale of finding a way to belong while remaining true to one's values. The negative turns into a positive here in a way readers of all ages can appreciate. The bright, whimsical illustrations are a joy.
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John Haburjak
5.0 out of 5 stars adorable character and fun read aloud
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2018
Verified Purchase
This is an adorable book! The main character, Maximillian and his desired pet bunny, are incredibly relatable, the plot perfectly executed, the puns - laugh out loud and the take away of being true to yourself - highly treasured. The illustrations are bright and very engaging. A must read that makes a great gift.
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