Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews

Madeline Loves Animals

Madeline Loves Animals

John Bemelmans Marciano
Board Book  Series
For ages 3 to 5
Penguin, 2005   ISBN: 978-0670060214

Madeline loves all kinds of animals, including the cats that she sees in the square, the birds in the park, the butterflies who dance about outside her window in the mornings, and even the ferocious tiger in the zoo who terrifies the other little girls.

Wherever she goes and whatever she does Madeline always seems to make animal friends. Best of all, every night she has her own beloved pet, Genevieve, sleeping on the end of her bed.

This simple yet charming Madeline board book  was created using cut-out large format illustrations which give the pictures an interesting three dimensional effect. For young children this board book, with its minimal rhymes, would make a wonderful introduction to the world of Madeline. The author, John Bemelmans Marciano, is the grandson of Ludwig Bemelmans, who illustratoed and wrote the original Madeline picture books many decades ago.