Madeline's Rescue
by Ludwig Bemelmans

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Book Reviews of Madeline's Rescue

Book Review: Natural Connections Improve Our Lives!
Summary: 5 Stars

My wife and daughters love to quote the beginning of the Madeline books:

"In an old house in Paris

That was covered with vines

Lived twelve little girls

In two straight lines.

. . .

the smallest one was Madeline."

What an engrossing beginning! Why an old house? Why two straight lines? What are the little girls doing there? Why are we focusing on the smallest? Your mind is filled with questions that cause you to want to race forward and learn more.

This is a boarding school where the parents do not make an appearance in the story. So you are looking at the independent life of young girls.

Madeline's Rescue is the second book in the series. You will probably enjoy the book more if you read Madeline first.

One day while walking with the school, Madeline falls into the fast-moving Seine. If you have ever seen the river, you know it would be hard to rescue anyone from it without a boat. In this case, a brave dog saves Madeline. The girls take the dog home and name her Genevieve. They fight over who will sleep with her.

All's well until the school's trustees come for their annual inspection. The trustees point out the rule, "DOGS AREN'T ALLOWED IN SCHOOL." So Genevieve is put out. After the trustees leave, the girls are naturally upset and search all over Paris for her.

But Genevieve returns on her own. Miss Clavel awakens in the middle of the night to find her outside. Then Miss Clavel is awakened again when the girls fight over Genevieve. Then, she is awakened a third time for a very nice surprise! You'll have to read the book to find out what it is.

Most illustrated books don't hold up well in small paperback form. Madeline's Rescue is the exception. I recommend that you buy a large, library binding edition for home, and the paperback for travel.

The illustrations won this book the 1954 Caldecott award for best illustrated children's book in that year. I am sure you will enjoy the bright splashes of color and inked outlines for the happy scenes, and the somber, cold tones for the sad times. If you've ever been in Paris during the wintry weather, the dull looking pages will remind you of those overcast, dull days.

After you finish reading this book with your child, I suggest that you think about where else our connection with animals brings rewards in both directions. Obviously, this is true with other pets. But what about humble animals like the earthworm that make our gardens grow and look more beautiful? When we loosen the soil for the plants, we help prepare it for the earthworms too.

Discover our natural heritage and obligations!

Summary of Madeline's Rescue

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