Books by Ludwig Bemelmans

'In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines...' The small but feisty heroine, Madeline, and her charming Parisian world have been loved by children and adults alike for seventy years.

'The original bad boy of the New York restaurant/hotel scene... No one has ever surpassed the master' Anthony BourdainAcerbic, colourful and spirited reminiscences from a grand New York hotel in the nineteen twenties - perfect for fans of Evelyn Waugh, Kitchen Confidential or The Grand Budapest HotelWelcome to the grand Hotel Splendide, where hilarity and chaos reign. In the mirror-lined dining halls, the champagne is constantly flowing; in the kitchens downstairs, malcontent waiters incite revolution.In this classic memoir, Ludwig Bemelmans encounters eccentricity on every level of the hotel hierarchy as he works his way up from busboy at the restaurant's most undesirable table, to assistant manager of the magnificent private banquets. There may be Russian ballerinas and Wall Street tycoons to entertain, but there is also Mespoulets, the world's worst waiter, to contend with and a murder plot against Monsieur Victor, the authoritarian matre d'htel, to solve.Accompanied by Bemelmans' own witty illustrations, this account of a bygone era of extravagance is as charming as it is riotously entertaining.

In the same mini-hardcover format as Love from the Very Hungry Caterpillar and Love from the Crayons comes another love-themed book starring one of our bestselling characters-Madeline.It's the Valentine's Day season and Madeline is ready to show the world what love means to her. From being brave to being kind, love takes all kinds of shapes and sizes. And there are many ways to express that love-whether it's lending a hand, standing tall, or spreading sunshine. This mini-hardcover features all-new art-but that doesn't mean we won't be seeing a familiar scene or two. This gifty format is perfect for Valentine's Day or a birthday, or a gift to show someone you care.

'In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines...' Pepito lives next door to Madeline and her friends. When he moves to London, he pines for the twelve little girls terribly. So Miss Clavel and her charges pay him a visit in London...and come home with a new friend!

It's Christmas Eve, and Miss Clavel and her charges are all in bed with colds. All except Madeline, who answers the door to a rug-seller. But when she discovers that the rug-seller is also a magician, the little girls are whisked away on a magic Christmas carpet ride!

His evocative tales of grand hotel life have a reporter's eye for sensory detail, yet he always manages to bathe his world and it's lovable characters in the mood of a fairytale. Meet the girl-hungry hotel Magician, Kalakobe the African cook, Mr Sigsag, Monsieur Victor, Mespoulet and an unforgettable cast of down but not yet out hotel employees.