Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Bibliographic Information:
Bemelmans, L. (1939). Madeline. New York: The Viking Press. Contemporary Realistic Fiction. 5-10 years old.
Response:
As I looked through the list of Touchstone books, Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans immediately stuck out to me. I automatically thought about how I knew that story because it was a favorite of mine as child. I instantly reminisced on my childhood mornings, and how I watched the little girl in the yellow dress on Disney Channel almost every day. I also could never get of enough of the movie which I saw numerous times.
Then I remembered, I actually never read the book. When I went to my city library, I realized that there were various Madeline stories. For the most part, I knew the stories because of the cartoon, but I still wanted to find the original Madeline book. I wanted to know how the rebellious little girl, that I wanted to be, started out. I wanted to live without a fear or care in the world.
I finally came across the book and as I started to read it, I realized that the book was actually the introduction of the movie. The main conflict in the book where Madeline has to get her appendix taken out is also the main conflict in the movie. There are various similarities between the two. Both brought me back to very memorable and happy time of my childhood.
Critique:
The book was straight to the point with all its literary elements. It was easy to identify them because Bemelmans points them out. The story opens up with the exact setting being “an old house in Paris.” Bemelmans style was very rhythmic and fun. The lines rhymed and the beginning of some sentences matched. It is a bit predictable, but for a child’s reading level I think that is more than okay. Since Madeline is a children’s book, I think the author purposely wrote it as if the point of view was of a child so that it was easy to understand. I did not think any of it was too complex for a five year old to read. The plot was also pointed out when Miss Clavel said “something is not right.” The reader would automatically know that the problem of the story was coming. As far of the theme of the story, I think it would be just to be your own person. Madeline always stuck to herself, her own personality, her own opinions.
Lesson:
One of the lessons that can be taught with this book is simply exposing children at a young age to another place in the world. Students will discuss places they want to visit. Another lesson could be to start teaching students to be their own person at a young age. Have them develop their own creativity and own goals, like Madeline does.
Discussion Questions:
- What is your biggest fear and how can you overcome it?
- What is something you are not afraid of that others may be? Why are you not afraid of it?
Activity:
Students will draw a picture of a time when they were scared or in trouble. On the bottom of the picture, they will describe how they overcame it.
Links:
http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/homeschool-lesson-plans/five-in-a-row/madeline/
http://www.brighthubeducation.com/lesson-plans-grades-1-2/98771-second-grade-madeline-activities/
http://gatheringbooks.org/2012/03/17/perfect-picture-book-madeline/
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