The Adventures of Madeline

In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines
Lived twelve little girls in two straight lines......
Those words begin the Madeline Series, written by Ludwig Bemelmans. 
Madeline is a spunky girl who isn't afraid of anything. A little girl, who intentionally or not,  drives her caretaker Miss Clavel to distraction with her adventurous nature. It is an excellent book for children from ages 2 and up. It's theme gives us a strong character, one which shows little girls being adventuresome, and a bit mischievous, but well loved.
"Madeline" was written by Ludwig Bemelmans. He was born in Austria on April 27, 1898. His father and mother were both artists. Ludwig spoke French and German. After his father left the family for Ludwig's governess, his mother moved back with her German family. Ludwig eventually emigrated to America where he served in the United States Army during World War 1. Because he was German he was not sent to Germany to fight, but served well enough stateside that at the end of the war he was a second lieutenant.
 In 1918 he became a citizen of the US. From there he started his career as both an artist and a restaurateur.
His first love, however was his art work. Bemelmans considered himself a serious artist. His paintings hang in museums from New York to Paris. He also did murals, one of which can be publicly viewed in the Carlyle Hotel in New York. Another mural was done in the children's dining room for Aristotle Onasis' daughter Christina on the family yacht.
But Bemelmans was also a writer, doing articles for magazines, such as the New Yorker and Town and Country. He even wrote a scripts for MGM.  In 1939 he published his first Madeline book, naming Madeline for his wife, but basing the character on his daughter Barbara.
All told Bemelmans wrote seven Madeline books. One, "Madeline's Christmas", was originally written as an article for McCall's magazine. The seventh book and last book, "Madeline in America and Other Holiday Tales", was found and published after Bemelmans' death. In addition to his last Madeline story, the book contains other short works by the author.
The Madeline stories can be fun for both boys and girls. In  "Madeline and the Bad Hat", Madeline meets Pepito, the son of the Spanish Ambassador who moves in next door.  The two become best friends and get into all kinds of mischief together, including getting kidnapped by gypsies. The addition of Pepito makes it more universally enjoyed.
Miss Clavel, the nun who looks after the girls, certainly has her hands full with Madeline. But though Madeline keeps her going, her heart is in the right place. In the end, everything comes out well.
Bemelmans died in 1962. He is buried in Arlington Cemetery. But his family continues the Madeline legacy, which now includes, DVDs, TV shows, and games as well as dolls and toys. 

"And that's all there is, there isn't anymore."