I do love the original Madeline story. It’s one I’ve read so much that I’ve memorized it, much to the confusion of the children whenever I decide to ‘read’ it without even holding the book.

All of these other Madeline stories are new to me and while some of them get quite frankly rather weird and there are a number of rhymes that are rather a stretch... they’re still wonderful little stories to read.

A good bedtime book to read to/with children. ( )

Here, collected in one handsome volume, are all the adventures of Madeline, a fearless little girl full of mischief and vitality who is one of the world's most popular and beloved fictional characters. Madeline, which was first published in 1939, and its five sequels have charmed generations of readers, and become true classics. In each of these books, Bemelmans' humorous verse, his immortal characters-Miss Clavel, Pepito, the magician, the others-and his wonderful, whimsical drawings of Paris combine to create a memorable reading experience for people of all ages.Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anna Quindlen has written an introduction to the collection, which also includes "The Isle of God," an essay by Bemelmans on how he invented Madeline, and never-before-published working sketches of Madeline, as well as photos of the Bemelmans family. ( )

Teaches students about adventure but also where mischief might get you.

I know Madeline is a classic childhood story, and that years of children have enjoyed these books. But, I don't like them. They seem trite and odd and nonsensical - but not in a whimsical childlike way but in a author-on-drugs sort of way. Even the bright and colorful illustration didn't help! The first book was not too bad, but they went downhill fast. Boring, weird, and strange - not my cup of tea. I'm sure others will continue to enjoy these stories, but as for me - I don't think I'll introduce them to my future kids less I be forced into reading them repeatedly. ( )