Madame Martine Breaks the Rules

June 22, 2015
In 2014’s Madame Martine, the elderly Parisian woman avoided visiting the Eiffel Tower; now, it’s the Louvre she steers clear of. “It’s so crowded, and they don’t allow dogs,” she explains to her friend Louis, who works there. When Madame Martine’s dog, Max, gets loose in the museum, Louis uses the opportunity to introduce her to the artwork on display, though Madame Martine is too nervous about breaking the rules to fully enjoy herself. Readers, however, have no reason not to soak up glimpses of the Mona Lisa and ancient statuary that Brannen includes in this warm, gentle adventure. Ages 4–7. Agent: Steven Chudney, Chudney Agency.

September 1, 2015

K-Gr 2-With a view of the Eiffel Tower outside her window, it's clear that Madame Martine is a Parisian, though she has never visited the world famous Louvre. Her friend Louis, a museum guard, continually asks her to peruse the enchanting artwork and impressive monuments, though she always uses her dog as her excuse for not paying a visit. Madame inadvertently enters the Louvre when her dog dashes into the museum, and Louis takes this unexpected opportunity to offer a hurried tour. They are chased by the guards, and Madame only realizes their true intentions when they are finally caught. While Madame is initially preoccupied with the pooch in her purse, the Mona Lisa's beauty stuns her. The narrative demonstrates the relationship between owner and pooch. "Madame Martine and her dog, Max, lived in a tall, narrow apartment building in the city of Paris. They did everything together." Dialogue provides insight into the adults' personalities. The final scene shows a dramatic view from the skyline as Madame, Louis, and the pup embark on a hot air balloon ride, high above the city streets. Hazy backgrounds saturated in golds and blues highlight the warm glow within the museum's walls and the cool outdoor air. Madame's striking red coat accentuates her starring role throughout the museum grounds. VERDICT Madame Martine's latest offering provides a gentle glimpse into a magnificent cultural treasure.-Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 15, 2015
Following his adoption in Madame Martine (2014), Max the dog leads his owner on another chase-this time in the Louvre. It's another Saturday-the day Madame Martine and Max venture out of their Paris apartment to explore. When Martine's friend Louis, a guard at the Louvre, meets her at the cafe and asks her to visit him, she makes excuses for never going: "It's so crowded, and they don't allow dogs." Louis goes off to work while Martine and Max ride the Metro, getting off at the Palais Royale stop for a new adventure. When Max spots Louis near the Louvre's employee entrance, he scampers past and into the museum, with the two in pursuit. But their chase is short-lived, and suddenly Max is in Martine's arms. Readers primed for a lesson in art history with a dash of humor will be disappointed; Louis excitedly points out exquisite masterpieces, but Martine is decidedly uninterested, solely focused on leaving before Max is spotted. Only when Louis shows her the Mona Lisa does Martine pause to admire an artwork. The tension sputters, and the story ends on an anticlimactic note. As in Brannen's first Martine and Max story, the beautiful watercolor illustrations starring the inimitable Max are expressive and carefully rendered-but altogether different is Martine's reaction to her first experience visiting a Paris landmark. Lovely to look at but inartfully told. (Picture book. 4-7)

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.