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A review by taliaissmart
Madeline and the Bad Hat by Ludwig Bemelmans
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!!
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!!