A CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK • OVER 8 MILLION COPIES SOLD! The cherished childhood classic starring a fearless little girl and her eleven lovable housemates.
One of The Atlantic’s 65 Essential Children’s Books
"Perhaps the best bedtime book ever written."—The New York Times

“In an old house in Paris

That was covered with vines

Lived twelve little girls

In two straight lines.

The smallest one was Madeline.”

So begins the story of Madeline, a young girl living in Paris with her eleven closest friends under the care and protection of Miss Clavel. What she lacks in size, Madeline makes up for in courage—she’s not afraid of tigers or mice, and often likes to stand out amongst the rest of the girls. Nothing seems to frighten her—until one night, when things take a scary turn.

With its endearing, courageous heroine, cheerful humor, and whimsical drawings of Paris, acclaimed author and illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans weaves a true classic that continues to stand the test of time. Let Madeline and her friends walk two straight lines right off the page and into your family’s heart!