cover image Madame Martine Breaks the Rules

Madame Martine Breaks the Rules

Sarah S. Brannen. Albert Whitman, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-8075-4907-0

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. (Sept.)