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librarianryan's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I love Madeline books. But this Madeline has ended up on the Banned Book list, and I understand why. Although it was originally written in 1956/57, racial bias and stereotyping is alive and well. The way the author describes the “gypsies” is harmful stereotyping. I would have thought that although a classic, the publishing house might have tried to clean things up, or change it to remove parts like sewing the kids in lion pelts to hide them from their teacher (in effect stealing the children) would have been redone, but I cannot find that to be true. So, while I love Madeline, I think this book can stay in the catacombs from which it came.
dandelionfluff's review against another edition
3.0
The Roma people are usually stereotyped and misunderstood, so I was a bit wary of this classic picture book. The story is entertaining and the illustrations are whimsical to be sure, but it doesn't have the same feel as previous works. I'm not sure that I would use this in a classroom or hand this to a child without trying to have them understand that "gypsies" aren't like this at all, and that the story's an attempt to be fun. But then, by giving this to a child, I'd still be condoning the portrayal of these people, right?
Tough choices and opinions on this one.
Tough choices and opinions on this one.
shelly416's review against another edition
3.0
Lowkey kinda scary- they got kidnapped and sewn into a lion costume?!
ariereads's review against another edition
3.0
Mostly stars for the illustrations, in all honesty. And the childhood memories.
larrys's review against another edition
4.0
Appearing near the end of the second Golden Age Of Children's Literature, this story isn't hard on gypsies (nor on nuns who run orphanages) like many earlier children's stories are. It's a feelgood, carnivalesque picturebook, and longer than almost any picturebook being published today.
We need to go back to slightly longer picturebooks, I feel -- away from the 300-400 word jokes and gags that are on the bestseller lists right now.
(This is 803 words in case you're wondering, coming in at exactly double what most publishers will even look at from a spec script today.)
We need to go back to slightly longer picturebooks, I feel -- away from the 300-400 word jokes and gags that are on the bestseller lists right now.
(This is 803 words in case you're wondering, coming in at exactly double what most publishers will even look at from a spec script today.)
last_haven's review against another edition
3.0
While the book is cute, there's some pretty insensitive stereotypes, specifically the old "gypsies steal children" trope.
sarah_khadr's review against another edition
4.0
"Thank heaven," she said, "the girls are well!
but dear, oh dear, they've forgotten how to spell,"
.
.
.
so adorable and cutely funny.
but dear, oh dear, they've forgotten how to spell,"
.
.
.
so adorable and cutely funny.
emkoshka's review against another edition
3.0
Who wouldn't want to run away and join the gypsy circus/carnival when Madeline and Pepito make it look like so much harlequin fun! Love the acrobatics of the twelve little girls at the end.
theresidentbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Yet another excellent installment of Madeline. I remember after reading this, my mom would tease me that she would sell me to the gypsies when I'm bad. She still teases me about it, though I always point out that the gypsies would probably sell me back. I would be too high-maintenance for them.
candacerobinsonauthor's review
5.0
I really loved the costume drawings in this one! It was a super fun story but I mean, the kids did basically get kidnapped! These are probably the only picture books I can read time and time again without growing bored!