The First UK Printing published by Walker Books, London in 1989. The BOOK is in near Fine condition with no inscriptions or erasures. The WRAPPER is neatly price-clipped and is in Very Good++ or better condition. Some spotting in places but less so than usually encountered. A small closed tear to the upper front flap fold and a small closed tear to the upper rear edge which has been neatly repaired to the verso. The wrapper is protected in removable Mylar archival cover. The classic children's story which went on to win the 'Nestle Smarties Book Prize' in 1989 and was an 'Honor Book' in the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards. The book also won the 'School Library Journal Best Book of the Year' and the 'Mainichi Newspapers Japanese Picture Book Award, Outstanding Picture Book from Abroad' award. Since publication, the book has sold more than 9 million copies. It has won numerous awards and was the subject of a Guinness World Record for the 'Largest Reading Lesson' with a book-reading attended by 1,500 children, and an additional 30,000 listeners online, in 2014. A sharp copy of an increasingly elusive title