The World of Maxime

A charming story of animal protection and friendship, The World of Maxime, written by Lucile de Peloüan, illustrated by Jacques Goldstyn, and translated by Helen Mixter, is a child’s ruminations during a time in their life where they have more questions than answers.

Maxime is a bright child, very curious and always to be found with her nose in a book. Her friends are her cat Turmeric and the people she meets in her books. One day, on her way home from school, she finds bowls of kibble down the laneway. She knows you are not supposed to feed the neighbourhood cats, her mother said so. When she dons her detective outfit she is set on a course of discovery and growth that leads to new friendships.

Lucile de Peloüan’s story feels like all the best stories of children questioning and discovering. The Matilda references throughout reveal the inspiration behind the story. If readers are familiar with the Roald Dahl classic, Maxime’s story will feel somewhat familiar but completely different at the same time. 

I love how this story centres Maxime, a child who doesn’t seem to fit and takes great comfort in her stories, and allows her to be brave and step outside of her comfort zone to make friends, even with a “scary, old lady”. There will be many readers who pick up this book and feel an instant connection with Maxime and see their own experiences reflected back, hopefully providing them with some courage to be brave as well.

This story also brings to light the problem of feral cats and the need for aid organizations and governments to support the organizations that help and protect these animals. I love how Catmamou and Maxime show community care, helping the cats who have been abandoned, injured and are hungry.

Jacques Goldstyn’s illustrations are evocative of Quentin Blake’s illustrations in Roald Dahl’s Matilda. I love the ink pen lines and watercolour, giving the effect of the busy, chaotic, and dreamy world of Maxime while being true to the setting in a big urban centre.