Bemelmans: The Life and Art of Madeline's Creator
"We are writing for Children but not for Idiots." Madeline's creator was a man of strong opinions, which always makes for a fascinating life. His legacy was Madeline; however, Ludwig Bemelmans  was also a novelist, a muralist, a nonfiction writer, a screenwriter,  an oil painter, and an all-around bon vivant. In this elegant account,  Bemelmans's life story is told through paintings, sketches, letters,  photographs, and excerpts from published and unpublished writings. Fans  of the stories about the charmingly impetuous little orphan girl (Mad About Madeline)  will be dazzled by the rest of Bemelmans's artistic body of work, as  well as by his irrepressible spirit. Entertaining tidbits will amuse  and amaze: once, on a trip to Germany, Bemelmans placed his cigar stub  over his lip and launched into a Hitler impression near a crowd of Nazi  supporters. Thinking nothing more about it, he and his wife returned to  their hotel, where his wife, on a lark, painted the sleeping  Bemelmans's toes pink. The next day he was arrested for his little  prank. When his toenails were discovered, the police tossed him in the  cell for homosexuals!John Bemelmans Marciano, grandson of Bemelmans, provides a running text to guide the readers through Bemelmans's own words and pictures, providing a shape to the life story that will leave admirers of  Madeline and her creator thoroughly satisfied.--Emilie Coulter