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above: Miss Clavel, Madeline, and girls, along with the dog Genevieve, all returning to their boarding school home in Paris (scene from the new picture book, Love from MADELINE)
See a video on Steven’s YouTube.com channel about this special MADELINE picture book project.
Read more detail on this special MADELINE picture book project
Steven Salerno is the illustrator of this special children’s book project illustrating the 5 new MADELINE picture books & board books -released by publisher Viking/Penguin-Random House from 2022 thru 2025. Steven has created the illustrations in the distinctive style of the originator of the Madeline character, Ludwig Bemelmans (born 1898 - died 1962) whose very first MADELINE picture book was released back in 1939 -about a brave little girl in a yellow hat named Madeline. She lived in an old Paris boarding school with 11 other girls and they were always under the watchful eye of the towering Miss Clavel.
All 5 of these new MADELINE titles are written by John Bemelmans Marciano, the grandson of Ludwig Bemelmans and were released starting in 2022 and 2023: Love from MADELINE, MADELINE’S ABCs, MADELINE’S 123s,MADELINE’S SEASONS, then the 5th and final book MADELINE Says Be Kind was released in Spring 2025.
Love from MADELINE
“Salerno honors Bemelmans’ iconic work but adds a modern sensibility with brightly colored illustrations in thick, black outlines that move across white spaces. Readers will find the facial expressions and body language of Madeline and those with whom she interacts varied and engaging.”-Kirkus Reviews
“A classic character is revisited in a rhyming ode to love and kindness. The first in a series of new Madeline titles to be published by Viking, this book will charm newcomers with light, sketchy drawings. Bemelmans's work is well emulated here in digitized full-color pages by illustrator Steven Salerno.” -School Library Journal
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above: covers of all 5 titles in the new series of MADELINE picture books & board books released by publisher Viking/Penguin-Random House from 2022 thru 2025. The 5th title, MADELINE Says Be Kind, was released in Spring 2025. They are written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno (in the style of the MADELINE originator, Ludwig Bemelmans)
see Steven’s complete list of published picture books to date
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above: detail view of bedtime scene from Love from MADELINE (the first title in a series of 5 new MADELINE picture books)
LOVE from Madeline -written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno (in the style of the MADELINE originator, Ludwig Bemelmans) published by Viking/Penguin-Random House, 2022.
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above: Madeline and friend riding the Ferris Wheel at the Carnival, from MADELINE’S 123s (the 3rd title in a series of 5 new MADELINE picture books)
MADELINE’S 123s -written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno (in the style of the MADELINE originator, Ludwig Bemelmans) published by Viking/Penguin-Random House, 2022.
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above: a detail view ofMiss Clavel and girls heading off to school early in the morning, from MADELINE Says Be Kind (the 5th title in a series of 5 new MADELINE picture books)
MADELINE Says Be Kind -written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno (in the style of the MADELINE originator, Ludwig Bemelmans) published by Viking/Penguin-Random House, Spring 2025.
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above: Miss Clavel, Madeline, and all the girls ice skating on a winter pond, from MADELINE’S SEASONS (the 4th title in a series of 5 new MADELINE picture books)
MADELINE’S SEASONS -written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno (in the style of the MADELINE originator, Ludwig Bemelmans) published by Viking/Penguin-Random House, 2023.
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above: endpapers art for Love from MADELINE (the first title in a series of 5 new MADELINE picture books)
Love from MADELINE-written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno (in the style of the MADELINE originator, Ludwig Bemelmans) published by Viking/Penguin-Random House, 2022.
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above: detail of Madeline and her friend Pepito in a sailboat from Love from MADELINE (the first title in a series of 5 new MADELINE picture books)
Love from MADELINE -written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno (in the style of the MADELINE originator, Ludwig Bemelmans) published by Viking/Penguin-Random House, 2022.
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above: Miss Clavel making sure all the girls wash and brush their teeth before bed time, from MADELINE’S SEASONS (the 4th title in a series of 5 new MADELINE picture books)
MADELINE’S SEASONS -written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno (in the style of the MADELINE originator, Ludwig Bemelmans) published by Viking/Penguin-Random House, 2023.
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above: detail view -Madeline assisting elderly man on the steps from, Love from MADELINE (the first title in a series of 5 new MADELINE picture books)
Love from MADELINE -written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno (in the style of the MADELINE originator, Ludwig Bemelmans) published by Viking/Penguin-Random House, 2022.
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above: Madeline and friends riding the Carousel at the Carnival, from MADELINE’S 123s (the 3rd title in a series of 5 new MADELINE picture books)
MADELINE’S 123s -written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno (in the style of the MADELINE originator, Ludwig Bemelmans) published by Viking/Penguin-Random House, 2022.
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above: Madeline balancing on the bridge railing, from MADELINE’S ABCs (the 2nd title in a series of 5 new MADELINE picture books)
MADELINE’S ABCs -written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno (in the style of the MADELINE originator, Ludwig Bemelmans) published by Viking/Penguin-Random House, 2022.
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above: detail of Madeline having a summer swim from MADELINE’S SEASONS (the 4th title in a series of 5 new MADELINE picture books)
MADELINE’S SEASONS -written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno (in the style of the MADELINE originator, Ludwig Bemelmans) published by Viking/Penguin-Random House, 2023.
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above: Miss Clavel and girls together under an umbrella, from MADELINE’S ABCs (the 2nd title in a series of 5 new MADELINE picture books)
MADELINE’S ABCs -written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno (in the style of the MADELINE originator, Ludwig Bemelmans) published by Viking/Penguin-Random House, 2022.