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Madeline
Madeline and the Cats of Rome
Madeline visits Rome!
The Paris skies are gray, so Miss Clavel and the twelve little girls are leaving for brighter weather---spring in Rome. Rome has wonderful sights to see and delicious things to eat, but Madeline also finds an unexpected adventure, involving a thief, a chase, and many, many cats. The first all-new Madeline book in close to fifty years combines a lively story with luminous gouache and watercolor illustrations. Beloved Madeline returns, as brave and irrepressible as ever!
The Paris skies are gray, so Miss Clavel and the twelve little girls are leaving for brighter weather---spring in Rome. Rome has wonderful sights to see and delicious things to eat, but Madeline also finds an unexpected adventure, involving a thief, a chase, and many, many cats. The first all-new Madeline book in close to fifty years combines a lively story with luminous gouache and watercolor illustrations. Beloved Madeline returns, as brave and irrepressible as ever!
48 pages, Hardcover
First published September 4, 2008
4 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
About the author
John Bemelmans Marciano
33 books39 followersJohn Bemelmans Marciano carries on the legacy begun by his grandfather, Ludwig Bemelmans, author and illustrator of the Madeline books, with stunning watercolor artwork and playful, energetic storytelling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
December 29, 2016
Another lovely Madeline story with beautiful illustrations.
Madeline and her school are on holiday in Rome. They see some sights, eat some pasta, find some homeless cats and find them homes.
Lovely odd story, nothing much happens but is still a great read.
Nice page of info about the buildings of the city.
Madeline and her school are on holiday in Rome. They see some sights, eat some pasta, find some homeless cats and find them homes.
Lovely odd story, nothing much happens but is still a great read.
Nice page of info about the buildings of the city.
September 4, 2020
In Andrea's words, "Far too much to unpack here."
October 3, 2008
What do I like about this new Madeline book written and illustrated by John Bemelmans Marciano? (Marciano is the grandson of Ludwig Bemelmans, the author of the original Madeline books.)
Well, I like the title; it's evocative and promises a good story. I like the cover. It is the most successful of Marciano's attempts to reproduce his grandfather's artistic style. And I have to give him points for his meticulous preparation. According to an AP article,
"Marciano meticulously practiced Ludwig's line techniques, tracking down which pen nibs he preferred. First, Marciano blew up drawings from some of Ludwig's originals and sketched them in pencil, then placed clear velum on top and worked in pen and ink over and over again.
"'I went over his lines less for the style than actually wanting to learn what his literal strokes were," he said. "How long they were. I was almost meditating over what he did. When I was ready to actually do the book I threw all that stuff away and just kind of went with it.'"
But however well Marciano has captured the mechanics of his predecessor's style, I think that there is still a tad less life in his artwork, perhaps because it is so studied.
Where the book really fails is in the text. Rhymed narrative is extremely hard to do, and Marciano's is just lame. The original Madeline books were never very easy to read aloud because of the way the text scans, but a skilled reader, with care, can pull off a smooth reading. I would never want to read aloud Madeline and the Cats of Rome. Marciano's syntax is annoying, his rhythm limps, and many of his rhymes are a real stretch. I am definitely not buying this for the granddaughters even though they are big fans of the original Madeline.
Well, I like the title; it's evocative and promises a good story. I like the cover. It is the most successful of Marciano's attempts to reproduce his grandfather's artistic style. And I have to give him points for his meticulous preparation. According to an AP article,
"Marciano meticulously practiced Ludwig's line techniques, tracking down which pen nibs he preferred. First, Marciano blew up drawings from some of Ludwig's originals and sketched them in pencil, then placed clear velum on top and worked in pen and ink over and over again.
"'I went over his lines less for the style than actually wanting to learn what his literal strokes were," he said. "How long they were. I was almost meditating over what he did. When I was ready to actually do the book I threw all that stuff away and just kind of went with it.'"
But however well Marciano has captured the mechanics of his predecessor's style, I think that there is still a tad less life in his artwork, perhaps because it is so studied.
Where the book really fails is in the text. Rhymed narrative is extremely hard to do, and Marciano's is just lame. The original Madeline books were never very easy to read aloud because of the way the text scans, but a skilled reader, with care, can pull off a smooth reading. I would never want to read aloud Madeline and the Cats of Rome. Marciano's syntax is annoying, his rhythm limps, and many of his rhymes are a real stretch. I am definitely not buying this for the granddaughters even though they are big fans of the original Madeline.
December 27, 2023
cats and a certain little french redhead. love it. i think this series of books is a bit too long for madeline's attention span though
October 27, 2025
This was an okay addition to the Madeline series. I like how the original author's descendent continued the series but if I'm being honest, the original series just has this magic about it. And I don't really see that same magic in the newer ones.
January 10, 2010
In my review of Mad About Madeline, the omnibus compiled by Ludwig Bemelmans's grandson, I mentioned the posthumously published Madeline in America which was finished by John Bemelmans Marciano. Madeline and the Cats of Rome is Marciano's first attempt to write and draw a Madeline book in his grandfather's style.
Madeline and the Cats of Rome takes Madeline, Miss Clavel, the eleven other girls go to Rome on holiday. While on a walking tour of the famous sites, a child resembling the "bad hat" steels Miss Clavel's camera. Madeline as she is wont to do takes matters into her own hands.
Madeline's chase through Rome is done against paintings of the most well known buildings done in Bemelmans's style. The confrontation and resolution of the stolen camera is a bit preachy compared to the original couple of Madeline books. There's a twist to the resolution that lightens the mood but it's still not as light hearted as the classic Madeline is.
Madeline and the Cats of Rome takes Madeline, Miss Clavel, the eleven other girls go to Rome on holiday. While on a walking tour of the famous sites, a child resembling the "bad hat" steels Miss Clavel's camera. Madeline as she is wont to do takes matters into her own hands.
Madeline's chase through Rome is done against paintings of the most well known buildings done in Bemelmans's style. The confrontation and resolution of the stolen camera is a bit preachy compared to the original couple of Madeline books. There's a twist to the resolution that lightens the mood but it's still not as light hearted as the classic Madeline is.
January 19, 2015
I love all the Madeline books, but be warned-- this isn't one of the originals. It's written by the author's grandson. While not at the level of the previous books, I thought this was pretty decent. It's nice to see the tradition carried on, and it's clearly done with love.
December 31, 2023
So, this is a standard Madeline structure, with an introduction to Rome and Italian. This would have been a five as I thought for three seconds they were going to actually explore the challenges of poverty. But they get a four for at least asking the question. Good vocabulary as well.
November 13, 2016
Hi I love the book
October 13, 2008
Ludwig Bemelmans' grandson has taken up the standard to continue the Madeline series. He has captured his grandfather's style of art to create a book that will fit right in with the other Madeline books. There is a colorful "spring in Rome" that brings the flavor of both the city and the time of year. There is lots of action and some suspense. But the text is somewhat iffy in places. I'm glad to see that Madeline will continue, but I'm hoping that the next offering will have a better written text.
June 25, 2024
After reading this story, I realized it was written by the grandson of the original Madeline books. Like its "classic" predecessor, I found the poetic meter in this story distracting and clunky. I also found the message confusing. My four-year-old grandson mentioned how much he liked the pictures on some of the more colorful pages (as opposed to the intermittent black, white, and yellow drawings.) I agree that the colors are comparatively engaging, but, still, I was occasionally disappointed. The Sistine Chapel ceiling was illustratively oversimplified as a canopy of nudes, and I felt the nude statue on a different page was distracting and unnecessary. I didn't loathe the book (thus the two stars, instead of one), but nor did I particularly enjoy it, so this will be a one-time read for me.
April 11, 2018
Another delightful tale with Madeline saving the day ... or at least the camera and the cats!
Ages: 4 - 9
Cleanliness: a statue of a naked woman shows a little detail - not central in the picture.
#geography #europe #italy #rome
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
Ages: 4 - 9
Cleanliness: a statue of a naked woman shows a little detail - not central in the picture.
#geography #europe #italy #rome
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.
March 26, 2019
Beautiful illustrations and of many of the most popular sites in Rome. A nice way to incorporate a fun story with a search of matching actual sites.
Madeline is escaping dreary Paris to travel to Spring in Rome with her class at school. Beautiful colors emerge and a twist when Madeline chases a young thief to regain her teacher's stolen camera. Madeline is very adamant and tells the young thief that there is no excuse for stealing only to be rounded up with the thief and accused of being an accomplice. It is interesting how your opinion of the thief changes as the story progresses.
Madeline is escaping dreary Paris to travel to Spring in Rome with her class at school. Beautiful colors emerge and a twist when Madeline chases a young thief to regain her teacher's stolen camera. Madeline is very adamant and tells the young thief that there is no excuse for stealing only to be rounded up with the thief and accused of being an accomplice. It is interesting how your opinion of the thief changes as the story progresses.
January 6, 2021
I love that the stories of Madeline are being continued by the original author's grandson. The illustrations in this book are true to the original. The story line is cute and packed with good character building conversation starters for young kids. There were words that sparked my kids to ask for clarification - which, I appreciate in children's books. Overall, a fun way to introduce the charm of Rome and continue the tradition of the precocious Madeline.
February 20, 2024
Summary: Madeline returns to take readers on a whirlwind tour of Rome! The Paris skies are gray and gloomy, so Miss Clavel and the twelve little girls set out to find the sun. The time has come for spring in Rome! There are glorious sights to see and delicious pasta to eat, and of course the intrepid Madeline finds herself in the midst of an adventure, one involving a thief, a chase, and many, many cats. -- inside left jacket flap
April 4, 2018
While reading this I couldn’t stop wondering what the original 6 books written by Ludwig would be like.
I will be patient that the day will come when the 6 will be landing on my laps.
This is better than a lot of other picture books out there because of the story and the reproduction of a master’s work.
I will be patient that the day will come when the 6 will be landing on my laps.
This is better than a lot of other picture books out there because of the story and the reproduction of a master’s work.
April 19, 2020
Grade Level: 1st-3rd
Genre: Contemporary Realistic
Madeline was one of my favorite book characters as a child. She teaches children to face their fears. She is also a great role model for young children. The grandson of the original author has revived the Madeline book series. I have enjoyed reading all of these new adventures.
Genre: Contemporary Realistic
Madeline was one of my favorite book characters as a child. She teaches children to face their fears. She is also a great role model for young children. The grandson of the original author has revived the Madeline book series. I have enjoyed reading all of these new adventures.
May 3, 2024
Loved the color illustrations of this book. Not all Madeline books are colorful for every picture, but this one mostly was. Rome is beautifully captured. The story is not as strong or straightforward as other Madeline’s, but that creates some interesting layers too.
August 16, 2017
Madeline is back with this sweet and action-filled story that concludes with a kitty rescue!
August 29, 2017
Fun new adventures and a great rescue operation!
July 16, 2018
This might be the first Madeline book I have read, but it's super cute. Love the rhythm and rhyme. Love the story. Love our dear Madeline.
July 16, 2018
Read to me by Claire
June 11, 2020
I was frustrated by the rhymes not rhyming.
And I was stymied not knowing how to pronounce Madeline. I can say it at least 4 different ways.
And the art was ok but I wanted more of Rome.
And I was stymied not knowing how to pronounce Madeline. I can say it at least 4 different ways.
And the art was ok but I wanted more of Rome.
October 15, 2020
The students liked it, and I’ve always liked the Madeline books.
December 3, 2020
Not a cat person, but I love this book.
February 3, 2021
Not what I expected but it was okay.
February 5, 2021
A fun story to end our tour of Italy
#passportaroundtheworld #italy
#passportaroundtheworld #italy
April 21, 2021
Madeline and her classmates go to Rome on vacation. They see some of Rome's sights and have an adventure with lots of cats.
April 12, 2022
#picturethis2022
July 21, 2022
Madeline in Rome and a cat rescue operation. What's not to love? The illustrations are beautiful. It's nice to see the Madeline books continued by the original author's grandson.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews