Marvelous Maxx and the Shaking Student Audiobook By John Higgins, Catherine Higgins cover art

Marvelous Maxx and the Shaking Student

Children Learn Practical New Words, Vocabulary, Medicine, & First-Aid

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Ready to Supercharge Your Child’s Vocabulary with Adventure? Meet Marvelous Maxx! Looking for a fun, action-packed way to expand your child’s vocabulary?

Marvelous Maxx and the Shaking Student is the perfect blend of thrilling storytelling and educational fun—with a bonus first-aid lesson built right in! It's recess and freeze tag is AWESOME... until Tomás falls down and starts shaking in a way nobody's seen before! But guess what? Maxx knows EXACTLY what to do!

With help from Ms. Ori and Dr. Zhang, the whole class discovers what seizures are, why they happen, and how to be a super helper if a friend needs you.

Spoiler alert: Being brave is easier than you think! This award-winning book makes learning new words exciting! Each story introduces engaging vocabulary, like: His eyelids flutter like tiny butterfly wings. Doctor Z grins mischievously.

Flutter means to flap lightly and quickly. Mischievously means being a little naughty in a playful, funny way — not a mean way. Why Parents & Kids LOVE Marvelous Maxx! Expands vocabulary through real-life adventure

Encourages confidence & curiosity in young listeners

Teaches first-aid skills in a simple, engaging way

Packed with humor, friendship, and heartwarming moments

Perfect for fans of Fancy Nancy & other educational books! Each adventure helps kids become stronger book explorers with fun idioms like “The world is your oyster” (meaning: You can do anything!).

Ready for a book that’s as exciting as it is educational? Click "Add to Cart" and let the adventure begin! Visit marvelousmaxx.com for more!

©2026 JOHN HIGGINS (P)2026 JOHN HIGGINS

Critic reviews

Honorable Mention – 2021 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards (Picture Books 6 & Older)
All stars
Most relevant

Listener received this title free

When my daughter first pressed play on Marvelous Maxx and the Shaking Student, I expected the usual — a sweet little story, maybe a new word or two, done. What I did not expect was for her to sprint into the kitchen afterward and explain to me, in complete detail, what a seizure is and exactly how to help a friend having one. I stood there, genuinely impressed.

"Mommy, 'flutter' means to flap lightly and quickly — like butterfly wings. And 'mischievously' means being naughty in a funny way, not a mean way."
— My 7-year-old, reciting vocabulary at the dinner table
Authors John and Catherine Higgins have done something genuinely clever here: they've hidden a first-aid lesson inside a story about recess and freeze tag, and kids don't even notice they're learning. When Tomás falls and starts shaking, the tension feels real, the empathy is immediate, and Maxx's calm confidence is the kind of role model energy I want my daughter absorbing. Narrator Steven Joseph Ray keeps the pace lively — expressive without being cartoonish — and at just 11 minutes, it hits a perfect sweet spot for young listeners.

What separates this from most "educational" audiobooks is that the vocabulary actually sticks. The words are introduced in context, then gently defined mid-story, so they land naturally rather than feeling like a quiz. My daughter used the word "mischievously" correctly three days later when describing our dog. I counted that as a parenting win.

What we loved most:
1) Real-life bravery
Kids learn that helping a friend in a scary moment is something they can actually do.
2) Vocabulary that sticks
Words defined in context, not in a list — so they're retained, not just heard.
3) Perfect runtime
11 minutes is exactly right — long enough to be satisfying, short enough for bedtime.

This is book 4 (or so) in the Marvelous Maxx series, and after this one we went straight back to find the others. If your child has ever had a classmate with epilepsy, or if you've simply wanted a non-scary, child-friendly way to introduce the topic of seizures, this is the perfect starting point. It's kind, it's funny, and it's surprisingly moving for something under 12 minutes.

Highest possible recommendation. My daughter has listened to it five times. The sixth is probably happening tonight.

11-minute miracle—my 7yo asks for it every night!!

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