Genre Category:
Age Range: Ages 4 to 10
Age Range: Ages 4 to 10
Source: Caldecott Medal, 1954
Assessment of the book’s quality: Artistically beautiful with an effectively incorporated expressive and energetic line drawings with the occasional full-color painting.
Assessment of the book’s potential: The book is wonderful for storytime.
Assessment of the book’s child appeal: Appealing for young children interested in animals and friends or who have experienced the feelings of sadness that follow the loss of a special pet.
Summary:
The story begins with the description of the school and Madeline - how brave and mischievous she was and how she could scare Miss Clavel the best. Until, one day she falls into a the River Seine is nearly drowned when a dog rescues her. They keep the dog, feed him (with beef and buscuits) and love him. Genevieve (that's how Madeline names the dog) accompanies her to everywhere she goes - to her music lesson, to school and on daily walks. Until one winter day the board of trustees comes for their annual school inspection. When they discover the dog lives there, they forbid for "this creature of undisgraceful race" to stay and kick her out, despite Miss Clavel's pleas. Genevieve gets lost. The girls and Miss Clavel go out to look for her almost everywhere. They even ask a gendarme (the police) if he had seen the dog. But then one night "Miss Clavel turned on the light and said that something is not right". The dog returns, girls cheer and once again argue who gets to keep Genevieve by her bed. It seems that one dog is not enough for twelve girls, until Miss Clavel, for the third time that night, turns on her light and finds many "hounds to go around."
Reaction and Impressions:
Assessment of the book’s quality: Artistically beautiful with an effectively incorporated expressive and energetic line drawings with the occasional full-color painting.
Assessment of the book’s potential: The book is wonderful for storytime.
Assessment of the book’s child appeal: Appealing for young children interested in animals and friends or who have experienced the feelings of sadness that follow the loss of a special pet.
Summary:
The story begins with the description of the school and Madeline - how brave and mischievous she was and how she could scare Miss Clavel the best. Until, one day she falls into a the River Seine is nearly drowned when a dog rescues her. They keep the dog, feed him (with beef and buscuits) and love him. Genevieve (that's how Madeline names the dog) accompanies her to everywhere she goes - to her music lesson, to school and on daily walks. Until one winter day the board of trustees comes for their annual school inspection. When they discover the dog lives there, they forbid for "this creature of undisgraceful race" to stay and kick her out, despite Miss Clavel's pleas. Genevieve gets lost. The girls and Miss Clavel go out to look for her almost everywhere. They even ask a gendarme (the police) if he had seen the dog. But then one night "Miss Clavel turned on the light and said that something is not right". The dog returns, girls cheer and once again argue who gets to keep Genevieve by her bed. It seems that one dog is not enough for twelve girls, until Miss Clavel, for the third time that night, turns on her light and finds many "hounds to go around."
Reaction and Impressions:
The artistic, beautiful and childlike illustrations are truly captivating. I am sure it would be appealing to kids to see images that are not always colored within the lines, or a round face with dotted eyes. These illustrations accompany the rhyming text beautifully and tell more than the text does allowing the child to tell her story! And the character Madeline with her mischief and eclat, is truly hard not to like!
"Yes, it will sell:- (1) because it is Ludwig Bemelmans and a beautiful book; (2) because Bemelmans' sense of humor tickles the risibilities of adults and they buy books. Children may like the absurdities, but actually, the appeal is not juvenile. The charm of the pictures (other than the coloring itself) lies in the identification with familiar and recognizable objects. And the text is not keyed to the interests or understanding of the average child. _ Kirkus Reviews
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