Close-Reading "Madeline" by Author and Illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans

You know how it goes, “In an old house in Paris / that was covered with vines / lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.” The smallest girl at school is Madeline. Her bravery shines on their field trips throughout the city, and when she has emergency surgery to remove her appendix. She proudly shows her scar to her schoolmates; she makes her hospital stay look so cool that her friends want one too. Headmistress Miss Clavel reminds them to be grateful for their health. 

Madeline, first published in 1939, has withstood the test of time. Ludwig Bemelmans’ timeless portrayal of Parisian landmarks, the smart rhymes, and the subtle sass of Madeline are more than the sum of their parts. These craft elements have made Madeline a classic. Let’s consider them in more detail:

1.The story blends darkness with light. In children’s stories, it can be tempting to contend only with light or easy matters (and of course, there’s nothing wrong with light-hearted stories for kids!). Handled well, however, stories that include darkness as well as light are complex and compelling. They help kids develop the coping skills and empathy they’ll need to face dark or sad events in real life. Madeline is a story about a young girl who gets sick and is rushed to the hospital. Neither the words nor the art attempt to hide the sad or scary aspects of the story. But the author expertly blends the scary occurrence with the brightness of Madeline’s bravery, the loving support of her classmates, and the beauty of the sun outside her window. The resolution of the story is deeply satisfying for young readers because it is a comforting return to health. 

2.The illustrations are expressive and deceptively simple. 

The beloved art in Madeline varies more than you might recall. Some of the illustrations are in color, some black-and-white. Some pages include a single, large illustration, while others feature a few panels. It is a pleasure to turn the page and get a little jolt of surprise at what unfolds there. Bemelmans’ art is also deceptively simple. The style is not elaborate; some of the illustrations look like they might have been done on the back of cocktail napkins. And yet, they are rich in playful, expressive details. The line of Miss Clavel’s mouth speaks volumes, as do the angles of the characters’ bodies. The curving silhouettes of famous spots around Paris echo the flowing nun habits and the bunny-shaped crack in Madeline’s ceiling. The art has a richness that keeps readers coming back for more.  

3.The rhyming is shockingly sophisticated. The rhyme scheme in Madeline is second to none. As with rhymes in other picture books, the repetition of sound makes the book fun to read aloud and makes it addicting for children, who enjoy the sensation of pattern and predictability. But the rhyming in Madeline is not simple; it is poetic and sophisticated, including slant rhymes and weaving into a free-form cadence that gives the book an adult feel and makes it a joy for readers of all ages. 

How can Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline inspire or improve your writing? 

• Don’t be shy about telling a story that might be a little sad or scary. Take a look at this article, or this one, for further discussion on this topic. If your manuscript grapples with difficult topics, consider balancing the dark beats with light ones. Map your story in an outline or storyboard to get a bird’s-eye view of the balance. 

• Simple doesn’t have to mean boring. This concept is true for both the language and the illustrations in children’s books. When crafting design notes for your picture book, think carefully about the mood. What visual style or repeated motifs will help develop that mood? Consider the body language and patterns of curved lines in Madeline for inspiration. 

• If your picture book manuscript rhymes, don’t let perfection be the enemy of fun! Play games with your rhymes, experimenting with slant rhymes or rhymes in the middle of lines. Shake things up; the best rhyming books balance predictability with surprise. 

Madeline, written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans, was published by Viking Books for Young Readers. The abridged version to which my post refers was published in 2012.