posted on 04 Dec 2023

Madame Badobedah and the Old Bones by Sophie Dahl, illustrated by Lauren O’Hara

This is the second adventure starring young Mabel who lives with her parents at The Mermaid Hotel by the sea where she spends time with the memorably eccentric Madame Badobedah.  This unusual red- haired woman lives at the hotel but she as a seasoned traveller and explorer who first inspired Mabel’s imagination and a thirst for adventure in the last book. 

Firstly, we are reminded about why this hotel is such an intriguing place. I love the way that Mabel takes charge of the narrative by showing us a cutaway view of its interior with its charmingly traditional bedrooms with gently patterned wallpaper and bedding. I would be thrilled to stay there.  Although her parents are the managers, she has the important role of keeping an eye on the guests as ‘you never know who could be staying’. She provides us with some examples of previous curious cliental that included: 

‘A ballroom dancer with amber eyes and an identical twin.

A three toed pygmy sloth, awfully fond of jam and gin.'

She goes onto explain that Madame B has been a hotel resident for a long time and amongst many other things has ‘pirouetted through pyramids, has skated across rivers, sailed with pirates and swum with mermaids …’  Although she can be very bad tempered and rather sad, she is always pleased to spend time with Mabel. It seems that both of them benefit from this unusual cross generational friendship. 

The next chapter gives us a bit of context about how children used to search the mud of the River Thames and how the two friends enjoy doing the same kind of treasure hunting activity on the seashore. They have had some success before but this Saturday they hope to find something very special. The softly coloured illustrations help to create a cosy nostalgic atmosphere that reminded me of worlds created by Edward Ardizonne. This is a place where happy, quiet hours can be spent exploring the beach beneath a huge grey sky. When they discover an unusual gold coin amongst the ropes of seaweed, Mabel wishes for a big adventure. 

On Sundays the two always meet in Room 32 for elevenses – how very civilised! This is where Madame B. lives and it contains a dressing table with at least 507 drawers (Mabel gave up counting on a previous occasion). Every drawer holds a delightful clue to an adventure and an opportunity to educate us all along the way. When Mabel discovers an enormous fang, Madame B reveals that she used to be a great explorer along with other pioneers like Mary Anning, Zora Neale Hurston and Amelia Earhart. Setting these names to one side (presumably to encourage readers to find out more about them in their own time), Madame B then tells the story of how she once went on a botanical expedition in North America where she stumbled across a Triceratops in a forest. This memory provides the impetus for a trip to visit the Natural History Museum via the secret magic cupboard in her room as she apparently needs to return a precious emerald that she borrowed from there many years ago.

The key is to believe every outlandish thing that Madame B tells Mabel because that drives the story along. Is she to be trusted and does it matter when she is clearly so charismatic? Do they really visit the famous museum to return the jewel and converse amicably with the dinosaur skeletons? When the alarms are accidentally set off, they have to make a quick escape and return to the warm and cosy Room 32 where they can reflect on the power of untold worlds that remain to be discovered: ‘if we just keep our eyes sharp, and our hearts open’.     

I strongly recommend this beautifully illustrated book published by Walker Books. It can be obtained from your local independent bookshop – who will be glad to order it for you if it’s not on their shelves.

Karen Argent

December 2023