Love from Madeline

by Ludwig Bemelmans, Steven Salerno (Illustrator)

Overview

In the same mini-hardcover format as Love from the Very Hungry Caterpillar and Love from the Crayons comes another love-themed book starring one of our bestselling characters—Madeline.

Madeline is ready to show the world what love means to her. From being brave to being kind, love takes all kinds of shapes and sizes. And there are many ways to express that love—whether it's lending a hand, standing tall, or spreading sunshine. This mini-hardcover features all-new art—but that doesn't mean we won't be seeing a familiar scene or two. Love from Madeline is a perfect gift to show someone you care.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593349830
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	12/28/2021
Series:	Madeline Series
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	176,030
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 6.80(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD330L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

Ludwig Bemelmans was a painter, illustrator, and writer for both children and adults. A world traveler, he spent most of his time in New York City or Paris. The original inspiration for Madeline was the result of his bicycle accident on an island of France. Hospitalized after being hit by the only car on the island, Mr. Bemelmans recalled, “The sisters in that small hospital wore large, starched white hats that looked like the wings of a giant butterfly. In the room next to mine was a little girl who had had her appendix out. In the ceiling over my bed was a crack ‘that had the habit of sometimes looking like a rabbit.’” A year later, back in New York City, he penned the first draft of Madeline on the backs of menus in Pete’s Tavern. The Madeline books rank among the most-honored children’s books series. Madeline was named a Caldecott Honor Book and the first of its five sequels, Madeline’s Rescue, won the Caldecott Medal and was a New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year. Mr. Bemelmans died in 1962, after completing Madeline’s Christmas.

STEVEN SALERNO is the author/illustrator of 5 picture books: Coco the Carrot, Little Tumbo, Harry Hungry!, Wild Child, and Tim’s Goodbye. Steven has also illustrated 24 popular picture books for other authors, including, Brothers at Bat (a New York Times Book Review's Notable Picture Book of the Year), The Kid from Diamond, The Fantastic Ferris Wheel, Goldenlocks and the Three Pirates, 19 Girls and Me, Margaret Wise Brown’s The Dirty Little Boy, Mrs. Wow never Wanted a Cow, and The Puppy Princess. Steven’s illustrations also appear in advertising, magazines, product packaging, and retail graphics. A graduate of Parson School of Design in NYC, he lives and works in Manhattan. Visit him at stevensalerno.com

Editorial Reviews

11/05/2021

PreS—A classic character is revisited in a rhyming ode to love and kindness. The first in a series of new Madeline titles to be published by Viking, this book will charm newcomers with light, sketchy drawings. Bemelmans's work is well emulated here in digitized full-color pages by illustrator Salerno. The book is short: just 12 full-page spreads, each with one line. The text reminds readers to say good morning, to help each other, and to enjoy one another. The story ends with a promise: "No matter where you roam, love is always found at home." In the final spread, Miss Clevel presides over the 12 beds as she has done since the first Madeline book was published in 1939. Madeline has been beloved since then, but this title is not a continuation of the series. Neither is it an introduction for a new audience to the character, or a sneak peek into her world. There is no story here to get a sense of the Madeline we know; she is merely superimposed onto a generic spate of situations. It is not Madeline in this book; it's a picture of Madeline. This title has little to recommend it. VERDICT A nostalgic greeting card of a book with limited potential for circulation in most collections.—Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter Sch., Providence

School Library Journal

2021-10-27
Madeline is back, ever brave and adventurous and allowing her good nature to shine.

Rhymes in simple verses express various ways in which to demonstrate love. Some of the rhymes are tortured, as in coupling spendand friends, and some of the lines are awkward and lack the lively flow and appeal of the original Madeline books—but the sentiment is true. Madeline, whose name does not appear in the text, is the star of the show and demonstrates the book’s broad suggestions about kindness with concrete examples (giving someone “a lift” is paired with an image of her riding a scooter with a friend). She also climbs a tree to rescue a kitten, removes a thorn from a lion’s paw, comforts a friend whose doll is broken, helps an older person carrying a cane, and warmly greets people. Salerno honors Bemelmans’ iconic work but adds a modern sensibility with brightly colored illustrations in thick, black outlines that move across white spaces. Readers will find the facial expressions and body language of Madeline and those with whom she interacts varied and engaging. On her way home at the end of the two straight lines (with Miss Clavel in the lead, of course), Madeline turns to look directly at readers. All the characters present White with the exception of a brown-skinned child on the scooter.

Though textually weak, this book provides a welcome Madeline-sighting. (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews