Here, collected in one volume, for the first time ever, are all of the adventures of the irrepressible Madeline, a little girl full of mischief and vitality who is one of the world's most cherished fictional characters. Madeline, which was first published in 1939, and its five sequels have become true classics, loved by generations of readers. In each of these books, Belmelmans' humorous verse, his immortal characters – Miss Clavel, Pepito, the magician, and others – and his wonderful, whimsical drawings of Paris combine to create a joyous reading experience for people of all ages.
Included in this landmark volume are an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anna Quindlen; "The Isle of God," an essay by Bemelmans on how he invented Madeline; and never-before-published working sketches of Madeline, as well as photos of the Bemelmans family.
