A very good first edition of the second in the Madeline book series, which won the 1954 Caldecott Medal for 'most distinguished picture book'. The author/illustrator courted some controversy when the work won this prize, seemingly joking with two Time magazine reporters that the whole tale was in fact an allegory for a far more mischievous tale of prostitutes, brothels and unplanned pregnancy; unfortunately this 'joke' was taken at face value and printed in Time, outraging the Caldecott Prize committee and provoking Bemelmans to threaten to sue the magazine.

First edition, first printing; folio; illustrations and pictorial endpapers by Bemelmans, contemporary ownership inscription on half-title; publisher's cloth, pictorial wrap-around dust-jacket, a few small chips and closed tears with slight loss to head of spine, but overall a very good, fresh example.