Madeline Says Merci: The Always-Be-Polite Book

Just got this for my 3-year-old who adores Madeline. It is supremely lovely, with adorable drawings, and the cutest guidance on manners. Anyone who has a toddler knows how demanding, naughty and haughty they can be, and this book offers gentle etiquette guidance, in a rhyming format. It's intelligent and cute, and will delight kids and adults. This should be a favorite--and a staple--for any parents who want to turn a naughty toddler into a young lady. At least it offers some hope!!! The DVD's are also wonderful, with gentle lessons in each one about being polite and honest--something that is quite unknown to toddlers. The stories are old-fashioned yet timeless. Madeline is my hero!

This book is great for teaching young children manners, e.g., how to say please, thank you and sorry. As other reviews state, this is not a typical picture book in that it tells a story. Rather it's divided into sections, each one covering a different manner to be taught, with examples of when certain manners should be used. You can easily see the influence of Ludwig Bemelmans in his grandson's artwork. But Marciano's illustrations make excellent use of color that adds more vibrancy than the original Madeline books. I wouldn't recommend this book as an introduction to the world of Madeline. The original Madeline, Reissue of 1939 edition or the Caldecott Medal Award-winning Madeline's Rescue are better suited for that. But if you're already familiar with Madeline, Pepito, Miss Clavel and friends, this would make a fun read.

This is my favorite manners book for my daughter(2). I started reading to this when she was just 1 year old. I had purchased a couple of other books related to the matter but this is by far the best one we have. It covers pretty much everything regarding the topic. This covers greetings, being kind and courteous, apologizing, and saying goodbye (and a lot in between). I read this book daily to my daughter and when she forgets to say the words anytime in the day, I remind her what Madeline would say. The French words (just a couple) also help to make it interesting and fun. The book is easy to read and has a rhyming scheme to it so it sticks. I really recommend this book to any parent. It is just wonderful.

I am a big fan of the classic Madeleine books, so I was unsure of how the tradition would be carried on by a new author. In this story, Madeleine is still the irrepressible young lady I love, and she is giving etiquette instructions! This is an instructional book of manners, NOT a story, so I would not recommend it as an introduction to Madeleine, but rather a follow on for little ones who already know the 'twelve little girls in two straight lines'. In today's world, examples of civility are sometimes hard to find. Madeleine's gentle instructions can make manners a bit easier to teach at home, and fun, too!

Such a fun book for kids of all ages with interesting illustrations that create good conversations. Truly it's brought giggles and thoughtful questions. I bought it and some others to read on our way to Paris and the kids enjoyed it very much. Family friendly and well done.

Nearly 3-year-old likes this better than the Madeline stories. It's a great way to teach basic manners.

My granddaughter has fallen in love with the Madeline books and this one is a favorite. The story teaches basic etiquette for young children. My granddaughter even is trying to learn some French and wants to learn to curtsy like Madeline. Highly recommend

My granddaughter loved this book. Such a cute little early reader.