Madeline and the Old House in Paris

K-Gr 2—Madeline and her friend Pepito come to the aid of a sad spirit in this offering from Bemelmans's grandson. Ghoulish groans of "Woo-hoo" from the attic make the orphans and Pepito cry "Boohoo," but Madeline heads off to investigate and says, "Pooh-pooh" when confronted with the apparition of Felix de Lamorte. The former astronomer, who has been waiting 221 years for the return of a comet so he may rest in peace, is devastated because his telescope has been stolen by the head of the school. In ghostly disguise, Madeline and Pepito pay the thief a midnight visit: "Awake! Awake! Lord Cucuface!/and save yourself from foul disgrace!/You've crossed a line that's awfully fine/by taking what is rightly mine." Marciano's full-color illustrations faithfully recreate such iconic images as Miss Clavel and "twelve little girls in two straight lines." The background scenes feature Parisian chateaus and the Seine. Although the rhyming text lacks the accomplished flair of the original books, Madeline's fans will enjoy her adventures.—Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada