Madeline Says Merci: The Always Be Polite Book

Take a journey through the life of Renaissance man Ludwig Bemelmans, author of the beloved Madeline series and accomplished painter. This book was written by his grandson, John Bemelmans Marciano, who has since continued the legacy of Madeline.

Farmer Red decides to buy a lamb to cure his loneliness. He couldn’t afford to buy the fancy educated sheep, so he ends up with an uneducated lamb. He names her Delilah and they quickly become the best of friends. Delilah becomes such a help on the farm, that Red is soon able to afford educated sheep… but the new sheep bring new conflicts.

Harold the squirrel is living the life in New York City, feasting on nuts from a kind old man in the park. The old man never feeds, the rats, though. One rat, angry at this fact, tells Harold the only difference between himself and a rat is his fluffy tail. Determined to prove the rat wrong, Harold shaves his tail… only to be proven wrong himself.

When Miss Clavel takes her 12 charges to Rome, they not only see the sights but meet a thief and rescue a house full of cats. This all-new Madeline adventure is comparable to the early ones but has been created by Bemelmans’ grandson.

From an elephant to a butterfly, Madeline meets and interacts with a series of creatures. Simple rhymes and signature illustrations appear on sturdy pages.

Luca is lonely and tired of spending his summer working in his parents’ café; that is, until he has an amazing adventure in the canals of Venice on the back of a dolphin. Playful line and wash illustrations add joy to the imaginative adventure.