Madeline and the Old House in Paris

In Marciano’s third Madeline title, he resurrects the mischievous character of Pepito, the son of the Spanish Ambassador who first appeared in Ludwig Bemelmans’s Madeline and the Bad Hat. It turns out that a ghost haunts the vine-covered Parisian house that Madeline, Miss Clavel, and the other girls inhabit—it’s that of the scientifically accomplished man who originally built the dwelling. With a rare comet approaching, Madeline and Pepito conspire to help the ghost rest in peace. Marciano does a fine job of replicating the mood, spirit, and look of his grandfather’s much-admired books, while emphasizing themes of mischief and justice in this outing. Ages 3–5. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management. (Oct.)