Reading level: grades k-2
Awards: Caldecott Honor Book

Yay, Madeline! I checked this book out at least five times when I was in second grade. ( )

At an orphanage in Paris, a little redheaded girl gets appendicitis.

I thought I remembered this having more of a backstory for Madeline, but no. She just gets her appendix out and that’s it. Still lovely illustrations though. ( )

I always enjoyed the Madeline cartoon as a kid. The song was catchy and Madeline (and Pierre) were amusing. That said, I don't think I ever read the books.

But the first book is not bad. Very similar to the show but lacking music. The story is a little confusing - orphans? Papa? boarding school? I don't really get the circumstances of Madeline's living arrangements but it's a minor thing to ignore.

I enjoyed the rhymes and the illustrations were gorgeous. Particularly the watercolour ones. I really liked the text arrangement on the last page, the way it echoed the trailing off of the rhyme. The story itself was fairly simple but entertaining to follow.

Target audience 4.5 stars, rounded to 5. For myself 3.5.

( )

I read this, maybe in my twenties, with no sense it wasn't for adults too. ( )