Do you recognize these words?
In an old house in Paris,
That was covered in vines,
Lived twelve little girls,
In two straight lines.
Do you remember what comes next?
Isn’t it awesome how books can create childhood memories?
I loved Madeline when I was a child. The year I was five, we lived near my grandmother, aka “Oma,” while my father served in the Army in Korea. I distinctly remember Oma taking me to the public library and reading Madeline books with me. The story with the appendicitis surgery really sticks out in my memory.
It’s great how the words of a book can pull me back in time. If I concentrate, I can still hear Oma’s voice reading the rhyming lines; I can still see her short fingers turning the slick pages. My kids know Madeline too- I have carried on the tradition, always with Oma in the back of my mind. Honestly, I didn’t realize that a new author had taken over the series, but he seems to do a fine job.
Next year, Madeline will be 75 (yikes! this makes me feel old), but she’s still got new books coming out. In October 2013, John Bemelmans Marciano, Ludwig Bemelmans’ grandson, released a new Madeline story called Madeline and the Old House in Paris. He has written three other Madeline books before this one. He talked to NPR about why Madeline is such an enduring character.
Bemelmans attributes Madeline’s longevity to several factors:
- Her spunk. Only a brave girl could say “Pooh, pooh” to a lion at the zoo!
- She and her schoolmates live in a world where parents don’t exist. Madeline has freedom and takes care of herself, something kids crave.
- The rhymes.
In the NPR interview, Bemelmans shares some funny insights into his grandfather’s work, which was complicated by the fact that he spoke several different languages and lived all over Europe. Check out the story.
Many thanks to the Bemelmans men for creating and developing a character (especially a GIRL!) who ventures out in the world without fear. (We could even call her dauntless.)
And thanks to all the authors who have given us childhood moments to treasure.
What is one of your favorite books from childhood? Do you have a fond memory about reading as a child? Can you share a few favorite lines?
Another favorite line of mine:
… he sailed in and out of days, and almost over a week, to the place where…”
Who knows that book?
Thanks for stopping by!
Julia
Madeline is definitely a favorite in our house! I quote it all the time…”serves you right you horrid brat, for what you did to that poor cat!” Of course, I don’t actually direct this AT my children, I just like to quote it 🙂 My daughter is reading Where the Red Fern Grows on my recommendation and I’m dreading the tearful ending…why would mom recommend this to me???
Julia,
I never thought of it before this way, but you’re so right . . . books do create childhood memories. On a note in my son’s lunch box last week I signed it, “You are dear to me . . . ‘my precious.’ ” He told me later he chuckled b/c he knew I was referencing Lord of the Rings – which is a family favorite around here. 😉
This encourages me to do more and bring out the ‘memories’ that could be dear to our family. 😉 Bless you, Hester
Madeline is a favorite in our house. Both my daughter and I can recite almost the entire book. For the longest time, when we got to the part about Dr. Cohn, my daughter would laugh and say, no Dr. Carillo. She’s the doctor that delivered both of my girls. When baby sister is a little older, I’m sure Madeline will become one of her favorites too.
And we love ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ too!