Why? I've been a stickler for poetry forms since I was a teenager, and the lack of consistent rhyme scheme in the Madeline books irritates me to no end. You have to read the whole book to know HOW to read them, pacing breath and pronunciation differently every few lines. Couplets are often inconsistent with the preceding and following couplets. It sounds like the poetry I wrote when I was ten years old. I understand that young children may not have a problem with the lyrical scheme and that many feel a deep love for these stories. Perhaps if I'd read them as a child I'd feel the same way. It is unfortunate that I did not. I'd like to enjoy them, but it seems I am a little too late. Madeline herself is a charming character, but the narrative is inconsistently written. I'll keep these book stocked in my library, but won't be reading them in storytime.
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