Author: Ludwig Bemelmans
Title: Madeline's Rescue
Illustrator: Ludwig Bemelmans
Publisher: Puffin Books
Year: 1951, 1981
Genre:Caldecott
Format: Audio
Reading level: Transitional
Interest level: Elementary
Topics: Dogs, children, orphans, & Madeline
Summary: This books is about twelve little orphan girls who live in a house in Paris with a nun named Miss. Clavel. The smallest girl was Madeline. One day Madeline falls off a bridge into the water. A dog jumps in after her, and rescues the little girl. The girls along with Miss. Clavel were so thankful for the dog's kind act. The girls, along with Madeline wanted to keep the dog, but the dog ran off before they could get to her. They looked for the dog for days, but could not find her. Finally one night they found her under a street lamp outside of their house. They capture her and bring her inside. They name her Genevieve and keep her. She has baby puppies and now all the girls can have their very own dog. This book has very detailed pictures. The page where Madeline falls off the bridge into the water contains cooler colors signaling it is a sad event and gives a frightened mood to the reader. The page after that though, where Madeline is rescued by the dog, the color is a bright yellow signifying a happier mood.
Extension Activity: Have children watch the movie called Madeline. After, they can pick out their favorite scene from the book or the movie and paint a picture of that scene. The picture would be what they think the scene would look like. Water color paints would be provided, along with paper.
