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by Mina Mauerstein Bail (Author), Gabriel Choquette (Illustrator)
Max And Voltaire Getting to Know You.
Set in a small town in France, Max and Voltaire: Getting to Know You, is about a cat, Max and a dog, Voltaire who are adopted by a kind and generous woman, with three cats- Zoa, Tish and Say What, when their former adoptive families can no longer take care of them. The touching and humorous adventures of Max, a jolly but fundamentally serious and wise cat, and Voltaire, a kind and courageous dog with a sense of humor, challenge us to think about how special every day can be and that no matter how bad a situation is, it can change for the better. Through the eyes of Max, Voltaire, a supporting cast of furry pals and bipeds, explore such themes as making new friends, adapting to change, fostering tolerance, lending a helping hand and getting along with others. Max and Voltaire is the first in a series of illustrated books about how embracing both the familiar and the different can make our lives continually interesting and rewarding. The messages about making new friends, adapting to change, tolerance, lending a helping hand and getting along with others are gently handled through the filter of a cat (Max) and a dog (Voltaire) and a supporting cast of furry friends and bipeds. Their touching and humorous adventures in a small town in France and in other countries challenge us to think about how special every day can be and that no matter how bad a situation is, it can change for the better. A fun read for children and animal lovers of all ages.
Mina Mauerstein Bail and I became friends when we were both working for the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland and living in Ferney-Voltaire just across the border in France. We shared many interests, especially for the works of Voltaire.
Some 200 years ago, the grateful citizens of Ferney, honored Voltaire by adding his name to that of their village. In 1758 when Francois-Marie Arouet (Voltaire's real name) bought the château and land on the slope above it, Ferney was a collection of run-down cottages whose inhabitants were very poor. Over the next twenty years, Voltaire put into practice his idea of when one had power and wealth one should use them for the good of all, in solidarity and respect, even for those whose opinions or beliefs one did not share. With the advantages of his fame and considerable fortune, Voltaire transformed Ferney into a prosperous village. Although at 64 he was already old by the standards of his time, he introduced modern agricultural methods and watch-making to increase the income of the villagers, battled to reduce their heavy taxes, repaired their houses and built new ones. Voltaire also built a church, a hospital, a school, a theatre and a water fountain. Many famous writers and artists visited Ferney during these years and it became a center of attraction for the arts. Then as now, the people of Ferney called him "the patriarch".
I was deputy mayor of Ferney-Voltaire when Mina asked me to write a foreword to her story of our four-legged friends: Max (the cat) and Voltaire (the dog), both of whom she had met while in Ferney. I am happy to do so as her tale illustrated for young and old, the timelessness and universality of "the patriarch's" message: accepting each other's differences and helping each other, brings joy to life. Voltaire's spirit and actions continue to inspire us and to this day we are proud to preserve and celebrate his memory.
--Sylvie Lacroux - Ferney-Voltaire, August 2014
