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Madeline scares Miss Clavel when one night she. I would reccomend this book for readers at the preschool age up to age eight or so. Although "Madeline" probably needs no introduction, this classic story set in Paris is about a Miss Clavel and twelve little girls. The illustrations compliment the plot and setting of the story by giving each page a mood that helps create the story. The illustrations coupled with the easy flow of the story and rhyme will allow this book to be enjoyed in a timeless fashion. Ludwig Bemelmans does a great job of corresponding the illustrations to the content of the story. I found when reading it to my daughter we both giggled at the many rhymes which Ludwig Bemelmans chose as the characteristic to tell this story in.
For the older reader the story is equally interesting with a slight hint of suspence. The smallest girl is Madeline, who is brave and does not even get scared of a lion in the zoo. For the younger reader it has a great rythem and illustrations that keep the eye interested. The scene where Madeline is saying "pooh-pooh" to the lion, it has more color than other pages making it exciting. The rythem and humor in this book will appeal to most children. Ludwig Bemelmans drawing's of the Opera, Notre Dame in the rain and of the children playing in the Luxembourg gardens give a classic picture of Paris. DawnENGL340 at SJC
In Madeline, my daughter, who is somewhat shy and leery of new experiences, has a heroine who is smart, spunky, and completely in control of every situation. . I missed the Madeline books completely when I was a child, so my daughter and I discovered them together. Some of his rhymes flow nicely together, such as the opening lines of the first book:In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines. She makes it so exciting that all the other girls want their appendix out, too. I like Madeline the character a lot more than I like the books. Cohn came, he rushed out to the phone, and he dialed : DANton-ten-six -- 'Nurse,' he said, 'it's an appendix.' Everybody had to cry -- not a single eye was dry.
Still, the story isn't bad. It's an education seeing Madeline through her eyes. Madeline woke up two hours later, in a room with flowers. I've found that very few writers can write wonderful verse, and I don't include Bemelmans in that august company. Some of his rhymes are jarring:and soon after Dr. A brave little girl is rushed to the hospital, has her appendix out, then shows off her scar. Even my daughter wanted to have an appendix scar, until I explained just what that would entail.
I read it to me kids on demand. They never tire of it, nor do I. If you like this book, try Suzy, Fair Suzy by Hugh Aaron, a beautifully illustrated book in verse about a girl who loses her doll, and the arrival of a sibling.
Our daughter 4th birthday present from a friend of mine who grew up on Madeline too. Now our girl is already 8 years old and still reads Madeline. And she learns how to write her own poems following Ludwig's example. After 4 years, it is still her favourite book by her bedside.
Genevieve had feelings of compassion and loyalty to the people in her community and would not be discouraged by being thrown out into the street. She remained faithful even when they said, "she'll have to go".
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