Reviews

Madeline and the Bad Hat by Ludwig Bemelmans

nickleby_shepherd's review against another edition

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4.0

Daughter likes.

britneyfan19's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Like the last two it was a nice quick listen. 

leithd15's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

taliaissmart's review against another edition

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2.0

I'm mad as hell because I had such fond memories of this book but I read it to some kids tonight and I was struck by a sudden realization that it's maybe not so great??

The rhymes are mediocre at best, with mismatching syllables and lots of instances where you know the words don't really rhyme but you kind of let it slide.

The characters' motivations are very unclear and a little too convenient. Why does Miss Clavel want the girls associating with the sadistic kid next door? Why does Pepito do any of the mean shit he does? Why does Madeline have the power to change his behavior by telling him that he's not such a bad hat? And why does she even step in?

ALSO, for some reason I was under the impression that Pepito was bad in a silly way or something, where his behavior could be excused because he's just a kid. NOPE. He's the WORST. He tortures animals and kills chickens for fun?? Um?????????

Disappointed to have had such a negative reaction this time around!!

kayelletea's review against another edition

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1.0

This one doesn’t hold up as well.

lilmatt050's review against another edition

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5.0

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

I completely forgot that I actually read this book weeks ago and haven't bother to write a review which I apologize because now looking back I have no recollection about my true feelings when it comes to this book. I adore Madeline and I will definitely continue reading the series and I hope there will be interesting storylines along the way. The illustrations are marvelous and I love the references Ludwig Bemelmans make with illustrating famous buildings and locations of Paris.

Everything is going wonderful for Madeline and the rest of the girls until they meet their new neighbor who is the Spanish Ambassador of Spain and his son named Pepito. The girls are excited for their new companion until they see he likes to terrorize every one in his sights. The adults do not see the havoc he causes especially when it comes to animal cruelty and his awful pranks but karma comes back to bite him in the butt.

Peptic tries to pull a prank involving dogs and a cat but it backfires and he gets injured and full of scratches everywhere. He is luckily saved and head to the hospital to be fixed up by the local doctors. Madeline and the girls head to the hospital to see Pepito and Madeline is of course the chosen one and gets to speak to Pepito. You may think that Madeline is humble and is worried about Pepito but clearly you have never met a child who holds a grudge to someone who performs awful violence and cruelty to others. Madeline essentially gives him a dose of his medicine and he learns she has no sympathy for him. He feels bad about the whole experience and decides to change his ways and becomes the good boy that everyone loves.

I just realized now that my review portrays Pepito like a demented child but I realize children sometimes do not know any better and cause harm to others. There is not much mention about his parents but I guarantee you between having his father in a high-level position, and his parents living the bourgeois lifestyle, they may not be paying attention to Pepito and providing the love and attention that a child needs on a daily bases. Plus I believe when someone feels genuine pain and suffering they are less likely to harm other living beings especially animals.

Was this better than the original Madeline book? HELL TO THE NO but it wasn't awful either. This series honestly could have gone on for over 10 books and this would have been one that necessarily wasn't important but nonetheless introduced a vital character in the Madeline series. I still cannot wrap my head around that Madeline is not an orphan and Miss Clavel is not a nun!

witchofthemountains's review against another edition

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4.0

I might be a little bit biased but I loved the Madeline books when I was a child and I think they're just as wonderful today. This particular Madeline book is a bit darker than I remember, what with the guillotines and the animal abuse, so I don't know if I would read it to particularly small children. But the art is beautiful and it does give an insight into French culture at the time Bemelman was writing.

jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition

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3.0

May 2017 - definitely weirder than the original Madeline, and in a way that's both fantastically strange and also macabre. Lots of things that I didn't even try to explain to Ben, but I could sense that his brain was whirring trying to figure things out. Given his current fear of dogs, I didn't even try to explain what happened to Pepito.

banhart04's review against another edition

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dark lighthearted fast-paced

4.25

Sweet but a bit dark, love it !

faitherslibrary's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25


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