Saturday, November 22, 2025

A Book Review: A Maximillian Manatee Adventure


cover of book. on manatees

A Sweet New Children’s Book, A Maximillian Manatee Adventure,  Brings Manatees to Life for Little Readers


This beautifully illustrated paperback book includes an uplifting story about Maximillian and Minerva--two adorable manatees who meet out in the ocean and help each other feel safe. In addition to the story, there are also pages to color, pages with interesting fun facts, and an overall calm happy vibe that makes it perfect for bedtime reading.

Have you ever seen a manatee? 
I live In South Florida, where we actually get to see manatees floating in the warm Intracoastal waters, and on rare occasions we even see them near beach in the ocean. I can tell you that it is quite a thrill to see one!!! How many kids (or adults) actually get to see them? Have you? This book will introduce kids to these amazing docile creatures worth knowing/learning about.

manatee book illustrations



I can still remember one of the books my mom read to me over and over when I was a young child. It was  about a puffin, an unusual bird, that I never forgot. Manatees are just as memorable, and Maximillian, the main character of the story book, gives young kids the same mix of wonder, warmth, and intriguing information that will stay with them for years to come.

I love the quality of this book. It is well written and the large joyful illustrations throughout are attractive to children and adults alike. Most of all, the book shares an the important environmental message.

poem about manatee and illustrations


Did you know ?  

Manatees grow to a massive 9 or 10 feet tall, can weigh thousands of pounds, while eating an entirely vegan diet. They are kind of cute and live peacefully even among sharks, alligators, and crocodiles. They have no known predators. Their greatest threats are from humans with boating accidents from the propellers, pollution, and damage to their habitats. They prefer warm waters. Florida manatees are considered an endangered species and boaters need to be especially careful not to hit them. 

Manatee Nature illustration and picture
This photo is not in the book. It is from free downloadable photos

This sign is in our neighborhood. I see the sign and other signs like it on my daily walks near the Intracoastal. 

My friends, Judi Berson-Levinson and Susan Beth Weizman, published this cute children’s book about manatees. After I reviewed it, I wanted to share it with my readers —especially those of you who might have kids or grandkids in the 2–6 age range. 

If interested, you can take a look at the book on Amazon.com: A Maximillian Manatee Adventure!:


Sharing this post on Saturday's Critters with Eileen 

Disclaimer: I was not asked to write a review and do not profit from its sales.  I really like the book after reading it and simply wanted to share it. All the opinions are my own, and I'll be giving it as gifts this holiday season to some special little ones. 

18 comments:

  1. i adore the manatee's, gentle giants, gliding ever so slowly. i/the boys have many great memories of the stories we read as they were growing up. i still have their favorite books!!

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  2. Hello,
    The book sounds cute, I love the Manatees. I was happy to see them during my travels in Florida.
    Thanks for sharing the book review. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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  3. What a fun book! I've seen quite a few in the Springs around this part of Florida too and it never gets old. It's always a delight!

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  4. 10 feet - wow, wow. I didn't know that. That's huge. Neato.

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  5. Thank you for sharing this book.

    All the best Jan

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  6. Manatees came up on my screensaver a few days ago, so I read up about them. Such nice animals. The book is delightful and very appealing.

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  7. I have never seen a Manatee so I am quite envious. I have seen pictures of some of these poor creatures badly scarred from encounters with boat propellers. Very sad.

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  8. The book sounds wonderful! Well done to your friends. I agree that it is exciting to see any animal in the wild.

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  9. This looks like a fun book for kids. Yes, I have seen Manatees before. They are amazing. Have a nice Suday.

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  10. Wonderful animals :-D Cute bok :-D

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  11. I don't think I have met a manatee. They look kind of charming.

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  12. I first learned about Manatees and their plight about 30 years ago when I first visited Florida. This book will make a great gift! Have a lovely Thanksgiving with friends and family! PS I stopped by earlier in the week and realized I had forgotten to leave a comment to say hi!

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  13. What a cute book! I love the names Maximillian and Minerva. 💙💙💙

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  14. This looks absolutely charming. I've never seen a manatee but have watched documentaries on them. What a great way to teach kids about them.

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  15. Judi Berson-LevinsonNovember 24, 2025 at 6:25 PM

    Thank you so much for reviewing our book. Judi and Susan

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  16. What a cute idea for a children's book. I have never seen Manatees in person, but I have seen nature movies that have described their plight when careless boaters run across them. They are an interesting creature.

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  17. What a cute book idea! We actually got to see them when we were in Florida 3 years ago. It was recommended by a friend that we stop at a park (I can't recall the name now) on our way to Miami because they were in abundance there that January. They truly are a wonderous site to see in person!

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  18. We went on a manatee cruise on a trip to Florida long ago. We even swam with them (which is no longer allowed as far as I know) … Quite a fascinating animal.

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