Creative Kidstuff

…the smallest one was Madeline.

September 18, 2008 on 3:02 pm | In Uncategorized |

On Tuesday, September 23rd, our Galleria location will be hosting a book signing for author John Bemelmans Marciano, the grandson of the Madeline creator Ludwig Bemelmans. He will be signing copies of his newest title in the Madeline series, Madeline and the Cats of Rome.

The Madeline series began in 1939, after original author Ludwig Bemelmans was hospitalized after being hit by a car. In the bed next to him, a little girl was recovering from an appendectomy. He was inspired by the girl’s attitude about the surgery and decided to write a story about a girl experiencing a similar adventure for his daughter, Barbara, who was age 3 at the time. The character Madeline is a combination of the little girl in the hospital and Bemelmans’ own daughter, with a touch of Bemelmans’ own spunky personality thrown in the mix.

Madeline has been adapted in both film and television versions, making the twelve little girls in two straight lines come to life. She is just as beloved by children and adults now as she was in 1939, the original year of publication (he original book cost only $2!). Perhaps the reason Madeline has stood the test of time is because Bemelmans was careful never to insult his young audience. “We are writing for children, but not for idiots,” he once stated. Children around the world have been inspired by Madeline’s individuality, even if that meant being a tad disobedient. She gave children the courage to speak their mind and demonstrated there is nothing wrong with being smart and strong.

The current author of the series, John Bemelmans Marciano, has continued writing about Madeline after discovering an unfinished manuscript, Madeline’s Christmas in Texas among his grandfather’s belongings. Since completing that first manuscript in 1999, Marciano has written other original titles in the series including Madeline Says Merci: The Always-Be-Polite Book and most recently, Madeline and the Cats of Rome. Marciano also has written original characters in his own books, including Harold’s Tail, about a Manhattan-dwelling squirrel who learns what life is like for the less fortunate when he takes a dare; There’s a Dolphin in the Grand Canal!, about a boy living in Venice, Italy, discovers a dolphin frolicking in the waters of the city’s canal but has a difficult time convincing his parents; and Delilah, about a little unschooled lamb befriending fast friends with her owner, Red.

We invite families to spend an evening at the Galleria location to meet with John Bemelmans Marciano, the author of the newest Madeline title, Madeline and the Cats of Rome. If you are unable to attend, we’ll be happy to have your books autographed. In the comments section of the online checkout form, simply list the name of the child that you would like Mr. Marciano to use when he signs the book. We kindly request orders be placed by noon CST on September 22nd.

What are your favorite Madeline stories? Tell us about favorite scenes or moments in the comments!

“That’s all there is, there isn’t any more.”