The Nine Lives of Alexander Baddenfield - Hardcover

John lives in Brooklyn, where he shares an art studio with Sergo Ruzzier, Brian Floca, and Sophie Blackall.

Sophie Blackall is also a New York Times best-selling illustrator. She is originally from Australia and has illustrated over 25 books for children. Her books Include the Ivy and Bean series, as well as BIG RED LOLLYPOP, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year. Sophie also lives in Brooklyn, where she also shares an art studio with Sergio Ruzzier and Brian Floca. She sits close enough to John Bemelmans Marciano to throw her eraser at him, but she hardly ever does.

Gr 4-6–As Marciano is descended from Ludwig Bemelmans, so might Alexander Baddenfield be descended from Madeline's nemesis-turned-friend Pepito “The Bad Hat.” Alexander, however, never sees the error of his ways. He is thoroughly bad for his entire nine lives–a circumstance he engineers by arranging for the transplantation of eight lives from his cat to himself. The rashness of youth combines with the recklessness of a person with many lives to lose as Alexander experiments wildly with the third rail of the subway system, the murky waters and treacherous currents of the Hudson River, an Icarus-style flight launched from the Empire State Building, an extremely brief stint as a matador, and more. When Alexander nears his final demise, he becomes overly cautious, immuring himself in his castle and avoiding any possible brushes with mortality. Naturally, that doesn't work, and the world is left a better place. The amusing, if macabre, premise is abetted by Blackall's slightly creepy gray and black-toned illustrations, in which hourglasses, the Grim Reaper, and funeral ribbons are recurring motifs. It's great to see Marciano enlarging his scope and good fun to see him partnered with Blackall.–Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Library, NYα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.