Madeline

"Madeline and the 40 Thieves" When mittens, caps, and even coats begin to disappear, Madeline and her classmates turn to the usual suspect--Pepito. But for once their next-door neighbor is innocent; even his "bad hat" is missing. So our red-haired heroine dons her detective gear and joins Pepito and a police officer in search of the robber in this 24-minute episode based on Ludwig Bemelmans's timeless characters. When the trio spots a girl wearing the bad hat, she is treated to a rhyme as clever as--if more irreverent than-- Bemelmans's originals: "I am Pepito, you bad bandito. / Your life as a thief is now finito." However, the impoverished girl returns the hat and the detectives press on to find the real thieves: 40 magpies with charitable intentions. "Madeline and the New House" Madeline's boarding school, the "old house in Paris that was covered with vines," is falling apart in this lively installment of the video series based on the characters of the beloved Ludwig Bemelmans books. When falling plaster nearly hits some dignitaries touring the antiquated building, it's the last straw for the owner, who puts up a condemnation sign and sends the dozen schoolgirls, their teacher, and their cook to live in a cramped apartment across town. Disaster ensues when the neighbors take an instant dislike to the rowdy girls, not to mention their dog, Genevieve. But never fear, Miss Clavel gets to sing, Madeline involves the historical society, and--with the help of some handymen--the old house becomes the refurbished "new" house of the title. Ages 3 to 8. --Kimberly Heinrichs