Madeline
Ludwig Bemelmans Β· 1939
Age 4-5F&P K
π Caldecott Honor (1940)π The Atlantic 65 Essential (2025)
View on Open Library βAbout This Book
In an old house in Paris covered with vines live twelve little girls in two straight lines. The smallest, Madeline, is fearless β even when she has her appendix out, she makes the other girls jealous of her scar.
Why This Age
The rhyming verse is sophisticated enough to hold a 4-5 year old's attention, and Madeline's bravery is an aspirational model.
How to Use
- Clap or tap the rhythm as you read the rhyming couplets
- Count the twelve little girls in the illustrations
- Talk about being brave when something scary happens (like going to the hospital)