Madeline Books in Order
Madeline is a 2-book series by Ludwig Bemelmans for ages 5–8, at a grades 3–4 reading level, with gentle content (HootRated intensity 1/5).
- Books
- 2
- By publication date
- Content intensity
- Gentle
- HootRated 1/5
Madeline Reading Order
Series numbers aren't available for most Madeline books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).
| # | Title | Reading Level | Ages | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madeline and the bad hat 1979 | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 2 | Madeline and the cats of Rome 2008 · John Bemelmans Marciano | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
Content Intensity Across the Series
ConsistentContent stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.
Series books grow with readers — but that's also the trap. Most series start at one reading level and one content intensity and drift upward over the course of the run. Madeline (2 books by Ludwig Bemelmans) lands at a grades 3–4 reading level, with average content intensity 1/5. Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.
The reading-order table above lists every book with per-volume reading level, age and intensity ratings so you can spot any escalation before it catches your reader off guard. For a deeper dive into how we score text difficulty vs. emotional weight separately — and why series readers especially benefit from that split — see our methodology page.
All Madeline Books
Series Like Madeline: What to Read Next
Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.
- ¡Vamos! (Versify) by Raúl the Third III 3 books · Grades 2–3 · gentle content
- Nadia & Nadir; Calico Kid by Marzieh A. Ali 3 books · Grades 3–4 · gentle to mild content
- Little Dolphin by Lucy Daniels 3 books · Grades 3–4 · gentle to mild content
- Sam the Man by Frances O'Roark Dowell 3 books · Grades 3–4 · gentle content
- Diary Of... by Doreen Cronin 3 books · Grades 2–3 · gentle content
- Extended Nursery Rhymes by Iza Trapani 3 books · Grades 2–3 · gentle content
Questions about the Madeline series
- What reading level is the Madeline series?
- Madeline books are at a grades 3–4 reading level (average grade level 3.6), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 5–8. There are 2 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Madeline books?
- Series numbers aren't available for most Madeline books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: Madeline and the bad hat (1979); Madeline and the cats of Rome (2008).
- What age is the Madeline series appropriate for?
- HootRated recommends Madeline for ages 5–8. Content is gentle (HootRated intensity 1/5). Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.