Madeline's Christmas

Madeline #6

by Ludwig Bemelmans

Children can celebrate a Parisian Christmas with Madeline, Pepito and all their friends.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Fiction, Classics, France

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Ludwig Bemelmans, Austrian-American illustrator, wrote books, such as Madeline in 1939, for children, and his experiences in the restaurant business based Hotel Splendide , adult fiction in 1940.

People internationally knew Ludwig Bemelmans, an author and a gourmand. People today most note his six publications to 1961. After his death, people discovered and posthumously published a seventh in 1999.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_...

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though my heart still thrills each time I read the words
In an old house in Paris
That was covered in vines
this one was kind of a let-down.

Poor Madeline's spending her Christmas taking care of all her sick housemates, including Miss Clavel, when a mysterious stranger arrives at the door. Adventure, and holiday magic ensue, along with the washing up. BUT . . . these girls AREN'T orphans! Why aren't they home with their families for Christmas?

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

We love Madeline books but this one wasn't as good as the others. The rhyming seemed to struggle and used words that didn't quite work. The storyline didn't really work either and wasn't very christmassy. We couldn't understand why the girls wouldn't be with their families anyway at Christmas.

[kezzie ʚ♡ɞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✩ 4.5 stars
~
this brought back sm nostalgic memories,
i loved madeline when i was kid. <3
~
thank u mom & dad for my epiphany present 💝

[Ronyell · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have noticed, I am a huge fan of Ludwig Bemelmans’ classic children’s series “Madeline” and I had basically read almost every book from the “Madeline” series! Well, I finally stumbled upon another “Madeline” book called “Madeline’s Christmas” and boy, was it a true holiday treat to read!

In this story, when all the little girls and Miss Clavel ended up being sick on Christmas Eve, it is up to Madeline to take care of everyone. But during that same night, a mysterious rug merchant comes and pays Madeline a visit and even though he gives Madeline his rugs, it turns out that the rug merchant is much more than he seems.

Ludwig Bemelmans has done it again with writing a heartwarming and magical story that involves our favorite cute little red-haired heroine! I loved the way that Ludwig Bemelmans wrote Madeline in this story as Madeline was truly helpful in trying to take care of the other girls and Miss Clavel when they were ill. It really showed Madeline in a positive light as she truly cared about Miss Clavel and the other girls and it showed how responsible she was in handling the chores around the house. I also loved the mystery surrounding the rug merchant who visits Madeline as I was wondering to myself about the ulterior motives of the rug merchant (be mindful that the ulterior motives of the rug merchant is not malicious or anything, but still I was curious about why he just showed up on the doorsteps of Miss Clavel’s boarding house). Ludwig Bemelmans’ artwork is truly creative and colorful at the same time as the character designs look simplistic, but are so adorable to look at that I just could not take my eyes off of the artwork! I also loved the imagery of Madeline herself as she has short red hair and a cute little yellow hat on her head that really defined her appearance.

Overall, “Madeline’s Christmas” is a truly beautiful and heartwarming story about the importance of kindness and learning the true meaning of Christmas that I am sure that “Madeline” fans will enjoy reading during Christmas time! I would recommend this book to children ages three and up since the story is easy enough for small children to get a grasp on.

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

[Julia Jasztal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mommy's review from 11/28/11 -


I hope putting this in bold will help people notice it. Please, please, please, please, please - if this is the first Madeline book you've picked up please, please, please try another. This is not up to par. This falls so short I can hardly even call it 'a Madeline book'. This is not what can be expected from Bemelmans - please try another. You probably won't regret it. (Unless there are more like this and I haven't gotten to them yet.) But I know for a fact there are a good number of really, really wonderful Madeline stories out there. This is borderline horrendous.

What in the world?! What is this? I don't know the exact number of Madeline stories my daughter and I have read to date but it's a decent number. None of them have been as bad as this. We've always fell between 'liked very much' and 'loved' with Madeline stories.
I had to check the cover and info to see if Bemelmans had even written this. I still have serious doubts. I wouldn't be surprised in the least if it comes out someone else wrote this.
It isn't at all like the other Madeline's and the reason these books are so well known is because all of the Madeline's are similar. Parents and children alike know what they're getting.
Want to know what you get here? Some weird story about a man selling rugs. A man who sells his rugs, gets cold and then gets warmed up by Madeline. Who then uses his magic (the same magic that couldn't be used to make himself a new rug presumably) to give the children magic carpet rides to their parents for Christmas. Huh?
Then Miss Clavel rings a bell and they all come flying back.

[Nerissa Narciso · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light read book, good for your toddlers.

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely Madeline story :)

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the Madeline books but this one was weird and had less to to with Christmas and more to do with a magician selling rugs. Disappointed.

[Harlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas miracle!

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally appearing in 1956, as a small paperback pamphlet in the McCall magazine, and only making it to book form in 1986, when it was released as a hardcover picture-book, Madeline's Christmas is the sixth and final Ludwig Bemelmans Madeline story,** although the series has been continued by the author/artist's grandson, John Bemelmans Marciano. As such, it marks the end of my recent project, in which I undertook to read all the original Madeline books.

A brief tale - it is quite short, in comparison to its five predecessors - with full color artwork on every page, Madeline's Christmas opens as our eponymous heroine, the only one in the entire vine-covered Parisian boarding school who is not sick, is working hard to care for her fellow students, and for Miss Clavel. When a rug salesman knocks on the door, Madeline seizes the opportunity to make a purchase that will keep her ill friends and teacher warm, little realizing that she is dealing with a magician, and that an enchanted holiday journey, in which all of the girls will be reunited with their families for Christmas, is in store...

After really loathing Madeline and the Gypsies , I was happy to discover that, although not a personal favorite, Madeline's Christmas was fairly engaging. I think I prefer Bemelmans' full-color paintings, as opposed to his yellow and white ones, so I enjoyed the visuals here more than in previous books, although I think the way that Madeline is depicted (she's larger, and you see more of her face) is a little distracting. I found it interesting that we get to see Madeline at home with her parents - it's odd to me that so many people describe Madeline as an orphan, when she's just a little girl at boarding school - although the fantastic elements of the story did feel a little disjointed. All in all, an improvement on its immediate predecessor, one I would recommend to Madeline fans, particularly at the holidays. I think my favorite thing about it is the cover art...

**The short story Madeline in Texas , published both on its own, and in the collection Madeline In America And Other Holiday Tales , was discovered by John Bemelmans Marciano, who reworked and expanded it, making it more of a joint venture, than a proper Ludwig Bemelmans title.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I'd put this on hold with my local library to receive it closer to Christmas, but for some reason we got it now (perhaps I shouldn't put holds for months in the future?) In any case, our girls enjoyed listening to this Madeline book on CD while they followed along with the book. The CD also had an additional track that explained a little bit more about French customs during Christmastime.

I thought it was strange that the story mentioned the little girls being whisked away to join their families for Christmas. Since we'd never seen the families before in the other stories, I thought these little girls were orphans. So while it made me glad to see them with their families, then I wondered why they weren't already home. Strange little tale, but then most of the books in this series are a bit bizarre.

Overall, it was an entertaining story with classic illustrations, but what we really enjoyed was the second track of the CD that taught us French Christmas songs.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grew up thinking that Madeleine was an orphan living in an orphanage! Now I learn that she attends a boarding school.

This story is not one of my favorites -- it's overly complicated.

[Sarah Abd Elaziz · Rating 4 out of 5]

this one was so cute, although I'd like to know what happened to the sick magician and his rugs afterwards. :)

[Ashwani Mahoour · Rating 3 out of 5]

Other Madeline stories are rather interesting but then again all Madeline stories are really close to my heart, I really get nostalgic reading all of em.

[John’aLee · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my childhood favorites!💕

2023
🎄The little grand girls (Pyper June and Lucy belle) came running up to me with this book asking me to read it to them on Christmas Day!🎄

[Honore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan. The drawings are weird, like at one point Madeline actually looks like an anime character. The choice was also made to show all the girls laying in their beds with these really sad faces before it's explained that they are sick, which was unsettling. This isn't a great holiday story so if you're looking for a Christmas book to share with loved one's, look elsewhere.

[Scarlett Mirano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mommy thought Madeline was an orphan all this time 😅

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weirdly interesting.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely written Christmas tale.

[Greg Majewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so weird, and I love it. Five stars for avant-garde children's literature!

Our heroine finds herself the only person in the orphanage not afflicted with some mysterious disease, which of course means she must take care of the others by buying them rugs from the caricature of a Middle Eastern man. Unfortunately, the rug merchant wears his rugs as clothing, so when he sells them, he just about freezes to death. No worry, Madeline brings him back to health, and in gratitude he flies the orphans around in the sky on magic carpets, just like I did when I was a child at Christmas! Then they all land at their parents' homes just in time for the holiday. So either Madame has kidnapped them, or they return to haunt the families that gave them up for adoption so long ago. Touching and heartwarming!

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

To check out my reviews: http://dancinginth3dark.blogspot.com

I cannot believe this is the final book of the Madeline series that is written by Ludwig Bemelmans. I believe it's perfect that to end this iconic series is to have the book deal with Christmas. For those who love Madeline, having this book will make it a tradition to read every year around the holidays to bring you comfort and enjoyment. While this book was still meh to me I can grasp my way around as to why it's popular.

It's Christmas time in Paris and the snow covers everything from the streets to the famous house where Madeline lives. Everyone is in bed except for you know who because everyone else is sick and Madeline is taking care of everyone. One night this man comes to the house and brings rugs to warm everyone's feet but without the rugs now he is sick and Madeline is taking care of him.

I am not familiar with Santa Claus in Europe, but I'm guessing this "magician" is Saint Nicolas in the story and he gives them a magic night to remember. Madeline visits her family in America for a brief moment which doesn't offer much dialogue about that encounter and as the moment passes quick, Madeline finds herself back with Miss Clavel and enjoy Christmas.

I didn't feel that gooey feeling when reading this Christmas classics and regardless whether I'm reading it now or should be during Christmas, this book would still be meh to me but I guarantee you that it's a classic around the world including France. The author stole some lines from the night before Christmas (You can't trick me for one second buddy!) and in the end I'm glad that I'm done with this series.

The other spinoffs of books with Madeline are written by the authors son and while that may seem cool to read and discover more Madeline stories, I am glad that it's other and let me enjoy the classic stories that changed a generation with these books.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always find Madeline's books a little weird, and this was no exception. She buys rugs from a merchant. The girls in the boarding school use them as flying carpets which whisk them to their parents' homes for Christmas.

At the beginning, it showed them sad in bed, and my son asked why they were sad and I explained they had colds. Then I realized at the end that it was because they couldn't see their parents for Christmas. (Why weren't they allowed out of the boarding school for CHRISTMAS????)

[Lucia · Rating 2 out of 5]

My daughter enjoys this book a lot; I do not. In the book the little girls who live at the boarding school meet a magic man that flies them through the sky so they can spend Christmas with their families. This makes me very sad, that without magic these little girls would not spend the holidays with their families. To make it worse, the families are shown celebrating at home with their other children!!!! This made for an interesting conversation with my 4 year old about how I will not send her away to live somewhere else.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow. I'm really disappointed in this book. The text and rhyming was terrible. In order to make something rhyme, the author changed the order of words so it was very hard to read. It also didn't have a strong Christmas theme of any kind, so I found myself toward the end of the book saying, did they print the correct story in this cover? I'm a huge fan of Madeline - I've loved it since I was a little girl, but this book left a lot to be desired. This will not be an annual book in our house, which I'm really disappointed about.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay for a Madeline book but just tossing in the word Christmas does not make it a Christmas book.

[Fjóla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sort of uncharacteristic of the Madeline series, and the story ... well, was a little thin. I wouldn't even see it as a holiday book to read, as the connection with Christmas is barely there.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie read to us :)...krb 12/1/15

Jacob picked this one to read..krb 12/9/16

Auntay unwrapped this book and Ellie read it to her this year...krb 12/10/19

[Jon Hewelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's sweet. It's charming. And I think my response is partly affected by it's reputation.

I read a few Madeline books when I was a kid. I remember watching a couple of Madeline cartoon specials we got from the library. I ESPECIALLY remember the Madeline computer game my sister and I would play on our old Windows 95.

Needless to say, Madeline was a part of my childhood. And it's hard for me to think of a time when Madeline (and other famous children's characters) weren't so ubiquitous.

I'm not suggesting that Madeline's place in our culture is undeserved. Ludwig Bemelmans created a sweet character who went on exciting adventures that showcased the charm and splendor of France, particularly Paris. The Madeline books are endless endearing, in large part because of their simple art and color scheme. They are, if nothing else, a treat to look at.

I bring all this up because, when I review things, I tend to focus on the plot and the characters, because I fancy myself a writer. And I qualify all this because I think that Madeline weren't such an established presence in my childhood and in the childhoods of so many, then I might not have enjoyed the story of Madeline's Christmas as much. It's simple, it's sweet, and there are magic flying carpets. What more do you need? Yet, I think if this wasn't Madeline, if this was some new children's book character, I'd be asking myself, "Wait . . . is that it?"

It's curious to review older books because so much of what has come out since then is based on how those older books established and shaped the medium. My knowledge of older children's literature is limited, and so I cannot say how complicated a story Madeline is compared to other children's books that came out at the time. But I get the impression that children's literature of a bygone era was, in some ways, simpler storytelling. Basic, if that word didn't carry with it such negative connotations. And though the language of children's lit (particularly picture books) has stayed simple, it feels like the stories have become more complex, because audiences expect more.

Pure speculation, of course, I don't know if any of this true. But that is what I was thinking of as I read Madeline's Christmas. No matter the circumstances, it is a good book, and worth reading. But Madeline is one of those properties that, for me at least, cannot be read without also considering its place in the timeline.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

On Christmas Eve, Madeline opens the door to a mysterious rug merchant while everyone else is in bed with a cold.

This is a strange story. Madeline is caring for everyone in her convent boarding school because they are sick with a cold when there is a knock at the door. It is an exotic looking carpet seller with 12 rugs for sale, which Madeline decides to purchase Christmas gifts for herself and her classmates.

After the rug peddler leaves, he starts to feel cold without his rugs and returns to the residence to reclaim them, freezing solid on the front step. Madeline thaws him out, and as thanks, he uses his magical powers to wash the dishes.

He then performs a magic spell that turns all the girls' rugs into flying carpets. The girls, apparently cured of their colds, fly off to visit their parents for Christmas. Miss Clavel then rings her bell to summon them home for New Years and break the magic carpet spell.

This story starts out okay but then takes a series of incredibly bizarre turns. Madeline and her friends don't even celebrate Christmas, which makes this a disappointing Christmas story.

The writing is awkward, and the rhymes are very forced, but the illustrations are nice.

[Kaeti Vandorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines …” the story starts just like all other Madeline books, and flows in lyrical rhyme as Madeline – the smallest girl in Miss Clavel’s boarding school -- handles the house while everyone is sick in bed! Madeline’s kindness to her friends and teacher is evident in this story, as she gently and bravely cares for the entire house … then a traveling rug merchant arrives, and Madeline buys twelve rugs to decorate! However, this stranger is chilled to the bone and needs some help thawing out. Madeline treats him with care, and he reveals himself as a magician! This sets the stage for a wonderous conclusion … the carpets transport the girls to their parent’s homes just in time for Christmas!

Christmas magic aside, Bemelman’s story and illustrations are downright magical. Madeline is always a treasure, leading us through her own little practical world where nothing can frighten her. She remains kind and compassionate, reminding us with sweetness that bravery shows itself in many ways.