Madame Badobedah

In this witty chapter book, Mabel lives in the quirky Mermaid Hotel, where a mysterious new guest, Madame Badobedah, arrives with peculiar luggage and a pet tortoise. Mabel, an aspiring detective, immediately suspects Madame Badobedah is a supervillain in disguise. Through Mabel's imaginative investigations and eventually, shared imaginary adventures over forbidden tea, the two forge an unlikely and heartwarming intergenerational friendship. The story beautifully explores themes of curiosity, empathy, and challenging initial judgments, making it perfect for children aged 4-11. It's a delightful read-aloud that encourages discussions about kindness and the richness found in unexpected connections.

Who is Madame Badobedah? Mabel sets out to prove that an eccentric new hotel guest is really a supervillain in this witty storybook about an intergenerational friendship. There’s a strange new guest at the Mermaid Hotel — a very old lady with a growly voice, bags stuffed with jewelry and coins and curiosities, and a beady-eyed pet tortoise. Mabel, whose parents run the hotel, is suspicious. Who is this “Madame Badobedah” (it rhymes with "Oo la la") who has come to stay indefinitely and never has any visitors? To find out, Mabel puts on her spy costume and observes the new guest. Conclusion? She must be a secret supervillain hiding out from the law. The grown-ups think Madame Badobedah is a bit rude — and sad — but when she invites “dahlink” Mabel for a cup of forbidden tea and a game of pirates, the two begin a series of imaginary adventures together, and Mabel realizes that first impressions can sometimes be very wrong. Conjuring two quirky heroines that young readers will love, Sophie Dahl adds her talented voice to a grand tradition of books that celebrate the alliance of the old and young in the face of humdrum adults, while Lauren O’Hara’s illustrations are as packed with intriguing details as Madame Badobedah’s suitcases.