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A new Madeline after nearly 50 years! Same spunky heroine, jaunty verse
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It’s true. Ludwig Bemelman’s grandson has created an all-new Madeline episode that’s faithful to the original look, spunky heroine, and jaunty verse of the original six.
This is John Bemelmans Marciano’s third outing with the Madeline franchise and this time he’s gotten it right.
While he may have taught good manners with Madeline Says Merci: The Always Be Polite Book, sparked some nostalgia by completing a partial manuscript for Madeline in America, and produced the quick board book Madeline Loves Animals, none of those efforts were up to the irresistible charm of the original Madeline series published between 1939 and 1961.
Madeline and the Cats of Rome is.
You still have the old house in Paris covered in vines, Miss Clavel, of course, and the twelve little girls in two straight lines.
Madeline is still the smallest and bravest. In this new adventure, she chases a thief, gets lost, then arrested. Finally, she saves about a dozen cats from the pound.
The biggest smile may be brought by a new character, Caterina. Her springy, undisciplined curls and defiant stance on behalf of orphans and street people -– including cats -- challenges even our spunky heroine. Madeline still chastises her about stealing and lying – she isn’t really an orphan – and it’s unclear who the author favors in that battle.
But together, with Miss Clavel, the other girls and Caterina’s parents, they cooperate on behalf of the homeless cats. The ending is a treasure.
Critics have knocked Marciano’s verse as awkward and forced. I think, for the most part, it flows just fine.
And he’s done a remarkable job keeping the pictures Madeline style. No child 6-8, the age range targeted for the book, would ever tell the difference. Nostalgia seekers will love it even if they can.
As a plus, this book offers 16 highlights of Rome, such as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and St. Peter's Basilica. They're not identified in the text, just listed on the back of the book. But most adults should be able to match them to the pictures for children who want to know. (The list should have indicated page numbers, but its a minor point, especially for a Madeline fan.)
One thing bothered me, though: absence of the signature closing line, said to have been first uttered in a play by actress Ethel Barrymore: “That’s all there is, there isn’t any more.”
Marciano, 38, who has three original children's books of his own in print, has chosen his own ending, which I will leave you to discover.
And perhaps hope there will be more
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