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Madeline
Madeline in America and Other Holiday Tales
Featuring a brand new story, two delightful holiday tales, family reminiscences, and artwork selected from the family archives, the first new Madeline book in fifteen years brings to life the beloved red-headed heroine as she embarks on an amazing adventure in America. 125,000 first printing.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
2 people are currently reading
574 people want to read
About the author
Ludwig Bemelmans
193 books440 followersLudwig Bemelmans, Austrian-American illustrator, wrote books, such as
Madeline
in 1939, for children, and his experiences in the restaurant business based
Hotel Splendide
, adult fiction in 1940.
People internationally knew Ludwig Bemelmans, an author and a gourmand. People today most note his six publications to 1961. After his death, people discovered and posthumously published a seventh in 1999.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_...
People internationally knew Ludwig Bemelmans, an author and a gourmand. People today most note his six publications to 1961. After his death, people discovered and posthumously published a seventh in 1999.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
December 6, 2025
A Texas Christmas With Madeline
Ludwig Bemelmans (1898 -- 1962) published six Madeline children's stories in his lifetime, beginning with "Madeline" in 1939, together with much else. I had been reading these six stories to my four-year old granddaughter in Texas in a collection called "Mad about Madeline" when she brought me her "new" Madeline book, "Madeline in America". I had known of this book, but I had never read it. And I didn't know it took place in Texas.
Bemelmans wrote "Madeline in America" in 1955 following a visit to Texas during the course of which he met and befriended Stanley Marcus of Neiman Marcus. In 1956, Neiman-Marcus gave out a small version of the book to Christmas shoppers. The version in this book includes Bemelmans's text together with new color illustrations by his grandson, John Bemelmans Marciano. In addition to the "Madeline" story, this book includes two other Bemelmans stories, "The Count and the Cobbler" which appeared in 1935, and "Sunshine" written in 1949 with some new illustrations by Marciano. In addition the book includes a short reminiscence, "A Bemelmans Christmas Memory" by Bemelmans's daughter, Barbara Bemelmans. All the stories in the book are loosely organized around Christmas.
In the title story, young Madeline learns that she has received an inheritance from her great-grandfather in Texas. Miss Clavel, Madeline's 11 little girl companions, and Genevive, the dog, travel to Texas where Madeline learns she has become wealthy indeed. She sees a large ranch, oil fields, and a department store and causes her usual mischief when she gets lost. Commendably, Miss Clavel is alarmed at the materialism of it all. But the story comes out right in the end as Miss Clavel and her entourage including Madeline return to the "Old house in Paris covered with vines" where, by the terms of the will Madeline is to remain under the tutelage of Miss Clavel until she is 21.
The early story, "The Count and the Cobbler" is a delight and has the feel of a folk-tale. "Sunshine" is set in New York City and seems to me a bit sophisticated for 4-year olds. My granddaughter did not seem to enjoy it as much as the others. Similarly, the short essay by Barbara Bemelmans is more a reminiscence for adults than a story for young children.
Marciano's full-color illustrations are good in their own right. They are more self-consciously artistic and lack the spontaneity of his grandfather's own "Madeline" illustrations. The major attraction of this book for my granddaughter was a Madeline story set in Texas. Little children, and their parents and grandparents who love Madeline will enjoy this follow-up volume.
Robin Friedman
Ludwig Bemelmans (1898 -- 1962) published six Madeline children's stories in his lifetime, beginning with "Madeline" in 1939, together with much else. I had been reading these six stories to my four-year old granddaughter in Texas in a collection called "Mad about Madeline" when she brought me her "new" Madeline book, "Madeline in America". I had known of this book, but I had never read it. And I didn't know it took place in Texas.
Bemelmans wrote "Madeline in America" in 1955 following a visit to Texas during the course of which he met and befriended Stanley Marcus of Neiman Marcus. In 1956, Neiman-Marcus gave out a small version of the book to Christmas shoppers. The version in this book includes Bemelmans's text together with new color illustrations by his grandson, John Bemelmans Marciano. In addition to the "Madeline" story, this book includes two other Bemelmans stories, "The Count and the Cobbler" which appeared in 1935, and "Sunshine" written in 1949 with some new illustrations by Marciano. In addition the book includes a short reminiscence, "A Bemelmans Christmas Memory" by Bemelmans's daughter, Barbara Bemelmans. All the stories in the book are loosely organized around Christmas.
In the title story, young Madeline learns that she has received an inheritance from her great-grandfather in Texas. Miss Clavel, Madeline's 11 little girl companions, and Genevive, the dog, travel to Texas where Madeline learns she has become wealthy indeed. She sees a large ranch, oil fields, and a department store and causes her usual mischief when she gets lost. Commendably, Miss Clavel is alarmed at the materialism of it all. But the story comes out right in the end as Miss Clavel and her entourage including Madeline return to the "Old house in Paris covered with vines" where, by the terms of the will Madeline is to remain under the tutelage of Miss Clavel until she is 21.
The early story, "The Count and the Cobbler" is a delight and has the feel of a folk-tale. "Sunshine" is set in New York City and seems to me a bit sophisticated for 4-year olds. My granddaughter did not seem to enjoy it as much as the others. Similarly, the short essay by Barbara Bemelmans is more a reminiscence for adults than a story for young children.
Marciano's full-color illustrations are good in their own right. They are more self-consciously artistic and lack the spontaneity of his grandfather's own "Madeline" illustrations. The major attraction of this book for my granddaughter was a Madeline story set in Texas. Little children, and their parents and grandparents who love Madeline will enjoy this follow-up volume.
Robin Friedman
April 3, 2020
This book contains one Madeline story, a previously unpublished story, a published but hard to buy it separately story and a couple of pages on a christmas memory written by Bemelmans' daughter. There was some nice extra artwork to look at with the christmas memory. Madeline in America was okay and the previously unpublished story was interesting, a folk style tale not involving Madeline and not rhyming.
We really enjoyed Mr Sunshine the last story in this collection about a grumpy landlord who lets out an apartment to an elderly lady assuming she will be a quiet tenant. It turns out that Miss Moore runs a childrens orchestra from her apartment and the rest of the story has the usual mix of nonsense, rhyming, and lovely illustrations with a 'scrooge ' style storyline. This story ends with a beautiful illustration of the children playing in their orchestra beneath a christmas tree in the park at night, with snow starting to fall. There was a page of the sheet music showing what the orchestra are playing which my daughter played and was a lovely end to the story.
We really enjoyed Mr Sunshine the last story in this collection about a grumpy landlord who lets out an apartment to an elderly lady assuming she will be a quiet tenant. It turns out that Miss Moore runs a childrens orchestra from her apartment and the rest of the story has the usual mix of nonsense, rhyming, and lovely illustrations with a 'scrooge ' style storyline. This story ends with a beautiful illustration of the children playing in their orchestra beneath a christmas tree in the park at night, with snow starting to fall. There was a page of the sheet music showing what the orchestra are playing which my daughter played and was a lovely end to the story.
February 6, 2025
A collection of three tales: one Madeline adventure, a really really short story and 'Sunshine', along with a short reminiscence by Bemelmans's daughter. Fortunately, the smallest one's not Madeline's.
'Sunshine' is the best of them and indeed beautifully illustrated, but then its plot trivializes the need for peace and quiet.
December 13, 2012
We've read many of the books in the Madeline series by Ludwig Bemelmans and only recently realized that John Bemelmans Marciano kept the series alive.
We discovered this book at our local library and thought it would be a fun holiday read. We enjoy the rhyming tales of the little French girls and this book takes them to America.
Overall, we enjoyed the various tales, although they aren't all about Miss Clavel's charges. The book of stories also includes holiday reminiscences of New York City and a story about a cobbler.
The tales are a bit scattered and seem to be a patched together grouping of old stories that aren't really related, but are fairly entertaining. The illustrations seem quite rough and aren't as good as we've seen in other stories in this series.
I realize that this was an attempt by John Bemelmans Marciano to bring to life some of his grandfather's unpublished work, and I'm sure that devoted fans will be grateful. But it just wasn't my favorite of the stories; it feels rough and unpolished and I wonder if that's why it was never published.
We discovered this book at our local library and thought it would be a fun holiday read. We enjoy the rhyming tales of the little French girls and this book takes them to America.
Overall, we enjoyed the various tales, although they aren't all about Miss Clavel's charges. The book of stories also includes holiday reminiscences of New York City and a story about a cobbler.
The tales are a bit scattered and seem to be a patched together grouping of old stories that aren't really related, but are fairly entertaining. The illustrations seem quite rough and aren't as good as we've seen in other stories in this series.
I realize that this was an attempt by John Bemelmans Marciano to bring to life some of his grandfather's unpublished work, and I'm sure that devoted fans will be grateful. But it just wasn't my favorite of the stories; it feels rough and unpolished and I wonder if that's why it was never published.
September 11, 2013
The more I read of the Madeline books, the more ambivalent I feel. The rhyming is just so awkward, it's a real pain to read aloud. Maybe we should try to get audio books to learn how they do it. The art is very unique for sure, I enjoy the bright illustrations and the broad ink lines. But frankly, that story about Madeline in Texas is neither fish nor fowl. It seems thrown together on order without any heart of a story. Totally pointless. The one story that I liked was Sunshine although, again, it's a hard one to read aloud, as the verse is so arhythmic. The Count and the Cobbler was okay, while Madeline in Texas/America was just vulgar. The pictures, if you like this style, are worthwhile however ...
April 20, 2015
Wow, who knew that so many of Madeline's random stories occurred during Christmas? It got tedious after a while for this agnostic. There is also a one page memoir (about Christmas, of course) by the author's daughter in the middle of the book. I guess I would have preferred the title be more direct, and say explicitly "other Christmas tales".
Also note, their are technically 5 stories, if you count the memoir, and only 3 of them rhyme. If you expect your Madeline stories to rhyme, don't save the non-rhyming ones (the memoir and "The Cobbler") for the end or it will be a tragedy!
Also note, their are technically 5 stories, if you count the memoir, and only 3 of them rhyme. If you expect your Madeline stories to rhyme, don't save the non-rhyming ones (the memoir and "The Cobbler") for the end or it will be a tragedy!
December 16, 2014
Um, I like the original Madeline story, and a few of the subsequent Madeline stories, and I love the illustrations, but this one does not score very high on my list. Seems like a complete waste of a Madeline Christmas story.
December 27, 2018
Not the best of the Madeline books.
September 16, 2012
In this beautiful gift book, John Bemelmans Marciano has brought to fruition a neverbefore-published manuscript written by his grandfather Ludwig - the tale of Madeline's only trip to America and her holiday adventures. Includes two more of Bemelmans's wonderful Christmas stories.
Amazon.com ReviewMadeline, in all her incarnations over six decades, has remained first and foremost one of "twelve little girls in two straight lines" in an old house in Paris. Now, with news that will astound her many fans, not to mention Madeline herself, she and her 11 cohorts find themselves on their way to Texas, U.S.A. Madeline a wealthy cowgirl? Why not! She handles her marvelous windfall with her usual aplomb, donning denim and boots to hop aboard a horse for a tour of her newly inherited gold mines, stampeding cattle herds, and gushing oil fields. At the end of the day, Miss Clavel prepares to tuck 12 little girls into bed--but wait... there are only 11! Where's Madeline?
Traditionalists need not fear that wealth will corrupt their favorite little orphan. Some surprises are still in store, even for Madeline.
While sorting through his grandfather's files, artist and writer John Bemelmans Marciano discovered the manuscript and pencil sketches for this last of the much-loved Madeline series. With great respect, Marciano completed the project with full-color paintings, and added two more of Bemelmans's holiday classics--"The Count and the Cobbler" and "Sunshine"--to create a collection no Bemelmans and Madeline devotee can do without. (Click to see a sample spread. Copyright 1999 by Barbara Bemelmans, Madeline Bemelmans, and John Bemelmans Marciano. Used by permission of Scholastic Inc.) (Ages 4 to 8--or all ages, of course) --Emilie Coulter
From Publishers WeeklyAlas, this seems like ersatz MadelineAbut try telling that to the hordes of Madeline fans who will clamor for it. As a note explains, during the 1950s Bemelmans drafted a Madeline adventure set in Texas at Christmas and featuring the department store owned by his friend Stanley Marcus; a version was passed out to Neiman-Marcus customers, and Bemelmans abandoned the project. Here his grandson supplies his own color illustrations for the discarded text; the quantum difference between Bemelman's offhand genius and the product here is revealed with a simple comparison of sketches drawn by Bemelmans, reproduced on the back of the jacket, with the extrapolations inside. The text, clearly a work in progress, splices together a story line from Madeline and the Gypsies with a cowboy motif and a big promotion for "the world's greatest store"; the heroine, inheriting a Texas-size fortune, seems unlike the "real" Madeline ("And there'll be no more school, that is the best part./ For who is rich is already smart," opines this impostor). Two other Bemelmans tales with Christmas settings are also included, with art similarly refurbished by Marciano. Ages 5-8. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
September 21, 2015
I love the Madeline stories, but my favourite story in this collection is Sunshine. It is a sweet reminder that we sometimes need to be adaptable and that we can be changed for the better through something that, at first appearance, is a trial.
January 10, 2016
A holiday-themed, Texas-sized adventure for Madeline, friends, and dog Genevieve in this collection of stories. Watch out for Sunshine in the rain and wish for peace on earth.
May 30, 2021
Oh I'm love with Paris and the illustrations, so.
January 16, 2016
We picked this book up at the library because my daughter liked the one Madeline book we already have. They had lots of Madeline books, but I thought one "in America" would be nice.
I like the rhyming aspect of the Madeline story and the cute little girls. My daughter was able to follow most of the story but I did have to pause and explain what they meant by some of the words sometimes. That is one thing about Madeline - in an effort to rhyme sometimes it doesn't make sense. The story is pretty long and it did entertain my daughter, but really all they do is go to Texas. I thought maybe it would be about different things in America, but it was only about Texas.
After reading the first story, my daughter wanted me to read the other two stories in the book. The second story was about a cobbler and was not rhyming at all. But it was short enough and easy enough to understand. However I don't see what it has to do with Madeline. The third story can be summed up by saying my daughter fell asleep before I finished it... It was a rhyming story like Madeline, but again had nothing to do with the cute little girl. Instead it was about a grumpy man trying to rent out an apartment. A lot of the language in this one was hard to understand for a toddler and I ended up ad-libbing as I read... but that didn't keep her awake.
As a library book, I would say get it just to read the first story. I wouldn't buy this, and I wouldn't read the other two stories ever again.
I like the rhyming aspect of the Madeline story and the cute little girls. My daughter was able to follow most of the story but I did have to pause and explain what they meant by some of the words sometimes. That is one thing about Madeline - in an effort to rhyme sometimes it doesn't make sense. The story is pretty long and it did entertain my daughter, but really all they do is go to Texas. I thought maybe it would be about different things in America, but it was only about Texas.
After reading the first story, my daughter wanted me to read the other two stories in the book. The second story was about a cobbler and was not rhyming at all. But it was short enough and easy enough to understand. However I don't see what it has to do with Madeline. The third story can be summed up by saying my daughter fell asleep before I finished it... It was a rhyming story like Madeline, but again had nothing to do with the cute little girl. Instead it was about a grumpy man trying to rent out an apartment. A lot of the language in this one was hard to understand for a toddler and I ended up ad-libbing as I read... but that didn't keep her awake.
As a library book, I would say get it just to read the first story. I wouldn't buy this, and I wouldn't read the other two stories ever again.
October 4, 2014
It's good to find rare works of literature, and I'm honored to have read these rare stories from Ludwig Bemelmans. The book begins with a tale of Madeline, the smallest of twelve little girls in two straight lines run with the kindness of Mother Superior Miss Clavell, as she finds out she has an inheritance from a late family member from Texas, USA. (Paris, Texas, maybe?) We find out that Maddy's last name isn't even remotely French....It's Fogg. Ewww. Sounds murky to me! So off she goes with her other eleven friends and Miss Clavell to America to find adventure on the high frontier, riding horses and visiting the world's biggest department store. Then comes the fine print. OOPS! We segue into a fairy tale involving a cobbler (sure to be a shoe-in, LOL, for kids), a small true story from Barbara, M. Bemelmans' daughter, as she shares fond memories of Christmas with her beloved Papa. We close out with a tale for the ages, of a man who endures the ministrations of a lady and her kids who help him realize that the fun of life is out there, and in the heart, regardless of how we deny ourselves that fact. The story even has the complete one verse of O Holy Night, which reminds us that it truly is about Jesus and his message to all of us. We fondly remember M. Bemelmans for his gentle stories, few as they had been, but the best gifts, I find, come from the littlest of packages, and fewer books often mean the best stories.
February 9, 2010
As you might expect, this story begins:
"In and old house in Paris
That was covered with vines
Lived twelve little girls
In two straight lines"
But things are a little different from the traditional Madeline books. In America, the girls take an exciting holiday trip to a Texas cattle ranch that Madeline has inherited. It has some very funny rhymes such as:
"Merry Christmas and howdy, ma'am
The name is Crockett, but call me Sam."
The girls have a great adventure until the wealth and power go to Madeline's head and she declares:
"And there'll be no more school, that is the best part
For who is rich is already smart."
Fortunately Miss Clavel comes to the rescue and the girls all head back to Paris where:
"In two straight lines they broke their bread
And brushed their teeth and went to bed."
Goodnight!
"In and old house in Paris
That was covered with vines
Lived twelve little girls
In two straight lines"
But things are a little different from the traditional Madeline books. In America, the girls take an exciting holiday trip to a Texas cattle ranch that Madeline has inherited. It has some very funny rhymes such as:
"Merry Christmas and howdy, ma'am
The name is Crockett, but call me Sam."
The girls have a great adventure until the wealth and power go to Madeline's head and she declares:
"And there'll be no more school, that is the best part
For who is rich is already smart."
Fortunately Miss Clavel comes to the rescue and the girls all head back to Paris where:
"In two straight lines they broke their bread
And brushed their teeth and went to bed."
Goodnight!
August 2, 2009
Bought a nice hardcopy edition of this book at 75% off last night at my beloved Barnes and Noble. Madeline is one of my all time favorite children book characters, and I had yet to read about her time in America. It's a bit different then her classic adventures, but still enjoyable, and four other Ludwig Bemelmans illustrated stories are also included in the book. My favorite of those is called Sunshine, about a grouchy old man who rents out his apartment to a music teacher... chaos ensues....:)
December 28, 2014
The three stories contained in this book are written by Ludwig Bemelmans and originally printed in smaller, hand outs. For this book, the artwork is by a relative to capture, but not copy, the original style.
Only one of the three stories is about Madeleine, and that one I don't much like. I was looking for more Madeleine to read to my daughter, so the two other two didn't interest me. The last, Sunshine, is quite long, the story itself and even the stanzas which read differently than the author's other stories.
Only one of the three stories is about Madeleine, and that one I don't much like. I was looking for more Madeleine to read to my daughter, so the two other two didn't interest me. The last, Sunshine, is quite long, the story itself and even the stanzas which read differently than the author's other stories.
July 8, 2012
I thought I had read all of the Madeline books. This was a great book completed by the grandson of Ludwig Bemelmans taken from his archives. Loved it. My daughter is named after this darling little girl, Madeline, "I can do anything." Little did I know how much she really is like the Madeline in these books.
April 14, 2015
This is one of the books that author Ludwig's grandson helps put the book together after he passed away. This book contains 1 Madeline story and 3 others that Ludwig had published in other places. Most are with the original artwork but some have had it recreated due to the originals being lost. It was lovely reading more of the original writings of Ludwig. Very enjoyable.
December 12, 2014
The story of Madeline in America was a lot of fun! The rhyming verse is perfect. Full disclosure, we did not read the other stories in this book - upon quick glance they appeared a bit boring, not in verse and not about Madeline at all.
September 19, 2017
This is the last of the Madeline books and I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the other ones, mostly because it is set in Texas and I have no interest in Texas. However, there are two other unrelated stories in here that I enjoy more than the Madeline one so I still gave it 4/5 stars.
July 29, 2011
This is a classic series of books about a fearless girl who lives with Miss Clavel and 11 other girls
May 23, 2015
Madeline was one of my favorite shows when I was little. I had a computer game, books, and everything. This book is still in perfect condition! Definitely one of my favorites when I was little!
May 24, 2016
The title story seemed to cover familiar territory for Madeline, just in Texas. The other stories were cute as well, but none of them were special.
May 7, 2018
Miss Clavel and the twelve little girls in two straight lines wearing ten-gallon hats is priceless. The other stories are all amusing, each in its own gentle way.
November 29, 2024
As a Madeline Fan, this just didn’t have the feel of other Madeline stories
March 3, 2018
Madeline in America is perfect for children in second grade. This edition contains Madeline in America and three other short tales. In Madeline's story, she is informed that she must attend the reading of the will and testament of her grandfather who lived in Texas. Miss Clavel and the other girls from Paris join Madeline on an exciting trip to America. Together, they all tour her grandfather's land and riches that he left behind for her. As they make their way to their hotel, Miss Clavel notices that Madeline is missing. A Texas Ranger helps find Madeline and returns her to her group. The next day Madeline meets with after her grandfather's lawyer only to find out that he left her all his wealth but only when she turns twenty-one. Until then she goes back to school in Paris with Miss Clavel and the other girls.
The Count and the Cobbler is the story of the poor family of a Dominik the cobbler. One day, a Count orders shoes from Dominik. The cobbler then traces the feet of the Count. In seeing this, one of the cobbler's sons unintentionally helped create shoes for all his siblings with his drawings.
A Bemelmans Christmas Memory is a very short story of Christmas eve in 1949 in New York. The author was a little girl was was humbled by her family not being so “flashy”.
Sunshine was the last story in this volume. It was about a man named Sunshine who put a for rent sign up in an apartment. He wanted someone to rent it who would be a quiet neighbor. Little did he know that Miss Moore, the lady that signed the lease, was also a music teacher and would turn the apartment into a music school. He tries to get her to leave but the lease signed. Miss Moore almost ended up losing the house due to her entering an umbrella auction. Suddenly it began to rain so hard that she ended up selling all her umbrellas all over New York landmarks. This helped her financial situation and Sunshine had a change of heart towards his tenant and music.
This book may be a bit outdated. The story of Madeline is the glue that holds this volume together. The other stories seem out of place with the only thing they have in common is that they take place in America. In Sunshine, it reads ,“Punctual” he said. “Right on the dot. In a woman that means an awful lot.” This seemed to be the mindset about women the 50s.
I would not recommend this book as it is outdated. It is not good that the character in the book is so surprised that a woman can be punctual. Also, the story of A Bemelmans Christmas Memory seems to just be thrown in at random.
Madeline and The Count and the Cobbler have colorful illustrations on every page. The difference between these two is that in Madeline the illustrations are large and fill up most of the page. The Count and the Cobbler’s illustrations are smaller and are strategically sequenced on each page. Most of Sunshine’s illustrations are in yellow, black and white. The images start off small and few on each page but as the story comes to an end the pictures begin to fill the page like in Madeline and they begin to use all colors. A Bemelmans Christmas Memory includes a black and white photograph, two landscape drawings, two drawings by children and a full color illustration at the end of the story.
The Count and the Cobbler is the story of the poor family of a Dominik the cobbler. One day, a Count orders shoes from Dominik. The cobbler then traces the feet of the Count. In seeing this, one of the cobbler's sons unintentionally helped create shoes for all his siblings with his drawings.
A Bemelmans Christmas Memory is a very short story of Christmas eve in 1949 in New York. The author was a little girl was was humbled by her family not being so “flashy”.
Sunshine was the last story in this volume. It was about a man named Sunshine who put a for rent sign up in an apartment. He wanted someone to rent it who would be a quiet neighbor. Little did he know that Miss Moore, the lady that signed the lease, was also a music teacher and would turn the apartment into a music school. He tries to get her to leave but the lease signed. Miss Moore almost ended up losing the house due to her entering an umbrella auction. Suddenly it began to rain so hard that she ended up selling all her umbrellas all over New York landmarks. This helped her financial situation and Sunshine had a change of heart towards his tenant and music.
This book may be a bit outdated. The story of Madeline is the glue that holds this volume together. The other stories seem out of place with the only thing they have in common is that they take place in America. In Sunshine, it reads ,“Punctual” he said. “Right on the dot. In a woman that means an awful lot.” This seemed to be the mindset about women the 50s.
I would not recommend this book as it is outdated. It is not good that the character in the book is so surprised that a woman can be punctual. Also, the story of A Bemelmans Christmas Memory seems to just be thrown in at random.
Madeline and The Count and the Cobbler have colorful illustrations on every page. The difference between these two is that in Madeline the illustrations are large and fill up most of the page. The Count and the Cobbler’s illustrations are smaller and are strategically sequenced on each page. Most of Sunshine’s illustrations are in yellow, black and white. The images start off small and few on each page but as the story comes to an end the pictures begin to fill the page like in Madeline and they begin to use all colors. A Bemelmans Christmas Memory includes a black and white photograph, two landscape drawings, two drawings by children and a full color illustration at the end of the story.
May 7, 2024
In the past few months, I've read a great deal by or on Bemelmans: memoirs, food, interior decorating and now I'm reading the children's books (solely and chiefly) the Madeline books. I never read these as a child, or if I did they didn't grab me. Looking at this book, and others, the pictures seem overly busy and garish--not something a child would necessarily want to focus on. Also, the stories seems to feature an "adventure" where the little girls of the convent in Paris, including Madeline, and the Argentinian Ambassador's son, Pepito. While they go to London or Rome or America, they see famous sites, and at the end of each book it cites what the locations were (in case those busy drawings of his don't make this clear.) Just before the assassination of John Kennedy, his wife Jacqueline met with Bemelmans, wanting to do a Madeline in Washington, D.C., but what she really meant was "at the White House" and featuring her daughter Caroline and little pony "Macaroni." Reading about this Bouvier manipulation (which didn't come to pass as originally dreamed about,) it only made me despise those bottomless pit of material wealth the two sisters represented to me. She created Camelot (leaving out the mob, the bootlegging, the parade of women,) so why not mythologize Madeline's adventures to include her kid. A book called Madeline at the White House was issued, long after the original idea, but thankfully there is no evidence of the original child designated to star, nor her pony.
This book includes a trip to Texas as Madeline inherits beaucoup bucks (franglais,) and also includes some independent stories: "The Count and the Cobbler," "A Bemelmans Christmas Memory," and "Sunshine."
This book includes a trip to Texas as Madeline inherits beaucoup bucks (franglais,) and also includes some independent stories: "The Count and the Cobbler," "A Bemelmans Christmas Memory," and "Sunshine."
November 19, 2017
Madeline's last name is Fogg?! Not what I expected at all. Madeline in Dallas? Unexpected. Texas can even make me dislike Madeline stories. I didn't know that was possible. Way to go Texas. Why was the Alamo in Dallas?
The Count and the Cobbler: weird.
A Bemelman's Christmas Story by Barbara Bemelman: Nostalgic for her family, I'm sure, but not insightful for fans.
Sunshine:"Punctual. In a woman that means an awful lot." Pass.
I can see why these weren't published.
The Count and the Cobbler: weird.
A Bemelman's Christmas Story by Barbara Bemelman: Nostalgic for her family, I'm sure, but not insightful for fans.
Sunshine:"Punctual. In a woman that means an awful lot." Pass.
I can see why these weren't published.
May 20, 2018
this is cute until it gets stereotypical but oh well, these are books for lil' kids is not that deep
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews