In an old house in Paris
that was covered in vines
lived twelve little girls
in two straight lines …

The Madeline picture books are classics in children’s literature. The stories are about little girls at a small boarding school in Paris, France. The heroine of the stories is the littlest girl, spunky, red-headed Madeline. The series has been made into a movie and television series, but the movie and tv series have changed the stories somewhat, often implying that the girls are orphans or at least that Madeline is an orphan. In the original books, the school is really just a school, and Madeline’s parents are still alive. The parents are not seen in the stories, but they are referred to, and Madeline’s father sends her a dollhouse as a present in the first book. Madeline also has siblings who are not students at the school. Most of the other girls in the school do not have names in the books, although they are given names in movie and tv series.

The time period of the books is indeterminate. The first book was published in 1939, around the beginning of World War II. The second book wasn’t published until 1953.

Miss Clavel, the girls’ teacher at the school. Miss Clavel’s clothing resembles a nun’s habit, but it may actually be a European nurse’s uniform from the time of the stories. The books don’t explicitly state which it is, so it’s a matter for debate, but Catholic nuns are usually referred to by the title of “Sister”, not “Miss”, suggesting that she is may not be a nun.

Other characters who appear in the stores are Lord Cucuface, who is the chairman of the school’s board of trustees; Genevieve, the stray dog that the girls adopt; and Pepito, who is the son of a Spanish ambassador and lives next door to the school. Pepito is a brat when the girls first meet him, but he later becomes their friend.

The original author of the series was Ludwig Bemelmans, who was born in Austria and spent much of his youth in Germany after his parents split up, prior to World War I. However, he was wild and undisciplined when he was a youth, and his uncle sent him to America, where he eventually became a citizen.

The character of Madeline first appeared as a side character in the author’s earlier book The Golden Basket (1936), one of a group of a dozen schoolgirls visiting a cathedral in Belgium.

After the original author’s death, his grandson, John Bemelmans Marciano, continued writing books for the Madeline series. These later books suggest, although don’t explicitly state, that Madeline may not actually be French herself. Her father’s surname, not mentioned in earlier books, is said to be “Fogg,” and the girls later visit America, where Madeline’s great-grandfather leaves her a large inheritance.

Books in the Series:

Original Set

Madeline (1939)

Madeline is ill and goes to the hospital to have her appendix removed.

Madeline’s Rescue (1953)

Madeline falls into the river while showing off on the bridge and is rescued by the dog that the children adopt and name Genevieve.

Madeline and the Bad Hat (1956)

A Spanish ambassador moves into the house next to the school, and the girls have to deal with his bratty son, Pepito.

Madeline and the Gypsies (1959)

Madeline and Pepito are accidentally left behind when they visit a carnival and join the band of gypsies running the carnival.

Madeline in London (1961)

Pepito moves to London, and the girls visit him.

Madeline’s Christmas (1985)

When everyone else is sick, Madeline has to take care of the school. The story first appeared in McCall’s Magazine in 1956 and only became a book decades later.

Later Additions

Madeline in America and Other Holiday Tales (1999)

A collection of short stories. Includes the story where the girls travel to Texas to claim Madeline’s inheritance. That story is sometimes published separately as Madeline in Texas.

Madeline says Merci (2001)

Madeline learns good manners.

Madeline Loves Animals (2005)

The girls take a trip to a zoo.

Madeline and the Cats of Rome (2008)

The girls take a trip to Rome.

Madeline at the White House (2011)

The girls take a trip to Washington, DC.

Madeline’s Tea Party (2011)

Madeline hosts a tea party, but Pepito’s tricks turn it into chaos.

Madeline and her Dog (2011)

Madeline has to give Genevieve a bath.

Madeline and the Old House in Paris (2013)

The old house used for the school turns out to be haunted.