This elegant volume -- perhaps one of the best gift
books on the planet -- contains all six adventures of
the irrepressible, mischievous Madeline (the smallest
and spunkiest of the twelve little girls in two straight
lines). Ludwig Bemelmans's Madeline was first published
in 1939, and its five sequels have all become classics.
In Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anna Quindlen's
introduction to Mad About Madeline she writes, "Amid a
childhood full of children's books, amid glorious
pictures and imaginative plots, it is worth wondering
why this story is among a handful of books that now-grown
children invariably buy for their own more than half a
century after Ludwig Bemelmans began writing it on the
back of a restaurant menu."
by Ludwig Bemelmans, Anna Quindlen (Contributor)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover - 316 pages
Published in October 1993 by Viking Press
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ISBN: 0670851876
Inside this hefty, richly illustrated edition, you'll find
Madeline , Madeline and the Bad Hat ,
Madeline's Rescue , Madeline and the Gypsies ,
Madeline in London , and Madeline's Christmas , in
addition to Quindlen's splendidly insightful introduction, an essay
by Bemelmans on how he invented Madeline, never-before-published
working sketches of Madeline, and photos of the Bemelmans family.
The perfect gift for anyone who has made friends with -- or should be
introduced to -- the precocious Madeline. (The jaunty verse makes
Madeline perfect for reading aloud, and readers ages 6 and older will
enjoy sounding out names such as Lord Cucuface.)
We've received
letters from prospective travelers to France, who are
concerned about whether they should bring their young
children with them, or whether they will encounter problems
with accomodations and other services.
Suffice it to
say that foreign travel may be the most eye-opening and
wondrous experience you could possibly offer your children.
They will treasure the adventure of exploring sights and
sounds in a foreign culture for a long time, and it will
likely serve as inspiration to study foreign language in
school, as well as to return for other visits later in life.
Perhaps most importantly, it will help to foster in them a
greater sense of understanding, a tolerance for -- and
appreciation of -- cultures different than their own, which
will be an asset in their relationships throughout their
lives.
From personal
experience, as an American child traveling in Europe with my
parents long ago, the memories of our adventures abroad are
still vivid. Later on, I became an enthusiastic student of
French language, leading to a wonderful academic year
abroad, and ultimately to the creation of the web site
you're visiting now. In college, while taking a class in art
appreciation, I was amazed at how many paintings,
sculptures, and architectural landmarks I recognized in the
textbooks, jogging my memories of countless museums we
visited and excursions we took so long ago.
Yes, whatever
you can do to expose your children to such an education in
global cultures will repay itself manifold throughout their
lives!
-- Ian C. Mills, Webmaster
As Valerie Wolf Deutsch and Laura
Sutherland point out in their book,
"Innocents Abroad -- Traveling With Kids In
Europe" (Penguin Books), "children add a
new dimension to travel. Sightseeing excursions (became) even more
engaging when experienced through their discoveries and reactions. As
a bonus, kids are the world's leading 'goodwill ambassadors', and
have the uncanny ability of making friends for the whole family."
"Traveling en famille in a foreign country
brings a family closer together. You'll develop a cache of shared memories to enjoy for years to
come. For many families with both parents working, vacations have become the most important block
of time to spend together, and exploring a foreign culture can make that time more precious."
"Classroom study simply cannot compare (to such a)
tremendous educational opportunity, (as children) learn firsthand about other people by experiencing
their food, language, history, and traditions."
In planning your itinerary,
Deutsch and Sutherland offer the following tips:
Planning your trip is like packing: For smooth traveling with
kids, jot down your preferred itinirary, then cut it in half.
Alternate big-city visits with beach, mountain, or country pursuits.
Intersperse 1- or 2-night stops with a week or two at a home
base from where you can take side trips.
Always keep your child's perspective in mind, and plan your
day's activities around your youngest child's abilities.
Favorite activities for many kids involve heights, depths,
water, unusual forms of transportation, and animals. Try to
incorporate as many of these into your itinirary as possible.
And, most importantly, always have a park or beach close by.
Encourage your children to to write to the
French Government Tourist Office,
indicating their specific interests such as hiking, skiing, boating, or animals, and they'll
soon find their mailbox jammed full with colorful brochures that will engage them in the trip
planning process.
Your biggest challenge in finding a place to
stay with your children in France will be choosing from the myriad of accomodations available.
You can
rock to sleep on a Parisian barge or rest your weary feet in a rural gîte
(self-catering home in the countryside). Rental homes and apartments allow a family to truly
experience the region they are visiting, by meeting your neighbors, shopping at local markets,
and playing in the parks. Typically offering kitchens, living/dining areas, and sometimes even
family libraries, such vacation rentals (by the week or month) are usually more economical than
staying in hotels and eating in restaurants.
If you decide -- for mobility's sake, perhaps --
to choose hotels for your lodging, don't limit yourself to the four- and five-star variety.
Instead, concentrate on facilities offering special family amenities, such as proximity to parks,
kitchenettes, suites or connecting rooms, gardens or lawns, or supervised children's playrooms.
In any case, you're likely to find the personable hospitality of a smaller, privately-owned
facility quite charming, and the savings you'll enjoy will help to subsidize many more family adventures.
(For more information, including sections on castles, bed & breakfasts, hostels, camping
facilities, and home exchanges, visit the chapter on Lodging Accomodations.)
Recommended children's books
An extensive collection of children's books suitable for varying
age ranges, including French folk tales and other fun stories,
books that teach art appreciation, plus mystery, adventure and
travel topics designed to stimulate young minds.
Explore the fascinating history of the prophet from Provence,
Nostradamus.
Read the reviews of our carefully selected travel guides and
recommended reading, then click to save 20-40% on
books you purchase, with the convenience of home delivery.
Can't find your favorite French movies at the video store or
library? Check out our selection of videotapes and DVDs featuring
French movie icons like Depardieu, Deneuve, Montand, and many more.
Then click to
save 10-30% on your own personal copy delivered to your door!
Submissions
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DiscoverFrance.net actively encourages topical submissions from
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travelers, American expatriates, and natives of France.
If you would like to share your experiences, knowledge or
research with thousands of our visitors and friends, please send
a note to the
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) in the museum
listings, indicating venues appealing particularly to children.
