Lessons in French humour

When publishers keep a children’s book in print for a certain number of years it is called a classic, by the publishers themselves, of course, then by teachers and librarians, and sometimes by men and women who knew the book when they were young. Nicholas, by every criterion, from every point of view, has attained classical status, and is a much-needed reminder of the Entente Cordiale.

As Le Petit Nicholas, it was published first in France in 1960 by the appropriately named Editions Deno