Classic Children's and YA Literature - Madeline’s Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans

Madeline’s Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans

Summary:  Madeline, the tiniest orphan at an orphanage in Paris, finds herself in trouble when she falls off a bridge during a field trip.  She is rescued by a brave dog who is then adopted by the orphanage and named Genevieve.  Genevieve becomes part of the school culture until the board of trustees remove the dog due to a “DOGS AREN’T ALLOWED IN SCHOOL” rule.  The orphans quickly go out to search for her but to no avail.  But the instinctive Ms. Clavel finds Genevieve and allows her back.  The story ends with a delightful surprise for all the orphan girls.

My Perspective: The story of the fearless, little Madeline is an endearing story. Her behavior keeps the head nun, Ms. Clavel, on her toes.  Yet, as stern as Ms. Clavel is, she also has a soft side.  In this story, Ms. Clavel allows Genevieve the dog to return to the orphanage with the school.  She had, after all, rescued Madeline from the river.  She is even willing to bend the school rules to keep her.  This heart-felt story is supported by humorous water-color illustrations that effectively support the storyline; deserving of its 1954 Caldecott Award. As Horning wrote in an article about the story, “Every contemporary review of Madeline’s Rescue made mention of two things: The enduring popularity of Madeline and the fact that it endured equally to both children and adults” (Horning, K.T., 2013, p. 39). It remains popular after all these years, and will continue to endure as a classic children’s book. 

Library Application:
The story of Madeline’s Rescue is hallowed for its artwork.  It can be used to show the stylistic artwork of Bemelmans and his use of colors. Children can use it as a springboard to use water color for an art project.  Bemelmans painted Paris in this story, but children can illustrate their own surroundings.
References:    
Bemelmans, Ludwig. (1953, 1981). Madeline’s Rescue. New York: Puffin Books.


Horning, K. T. (2013). Madeline's rescue and the question of audience. The Horn Book Magazine, 89(3), 35-41. Retrieved from https://libproxy.library.unt.edu/login?url=https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2165/docview/1348658235?accountid=7113

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