Madame Martine by Sarah S. Brannen

Madame Martine lives in Paris and has never been to the top of the Eiffel Tower -- says it's just a tourist thing. Then one day she discovers a lost dog and brings him home. She takes the dog for her own and names him Max. One day Madame Martine and Max go out for a walk and he runs off toward the Eiffel Tower and Madame Martine chases after him, running up the stairs of the tower she said she would never climb. You can see where this is going...

While the way that Max leads Madame Martine up the Eiffel Tower involves suspending a great deal of disbelief, the overall message makes Madame Martine worth sharing with students. It seems to be human nature that we tend not to explore the place we live or seek out new adventures close to home. This book would be a wonderful writing prompt to use with students to get them to try one new thing they've never done before. Or to research a place they could visit with their family that's less than an hour from home. There's lots of extensions teachers could make with this. Overall, if you're willing to overlook the unlikely scenario of a dog making it all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower without being apprehended, this is a delightful story. 


Madame Martine by Sarah S. Brannen
Published: September 1, 2014
Publisher: Albert Whitman and Company
Pages: 32
Genre: Picture Book
Audience: Primary
Disclosure: Library Copy

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