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Margaret Wise Brown was among the very best (and possibly the best) children’s authors of the 20th century. Her early and unexpected death in 1952 cheated millions of kids the pleasure of reading what should have been scores of unwritten stories. Still, there were a number of unpublished tales that Brown had written at the time of her death, many of which have come to print over the years. Among the first was The Little Brass Band, published in 1955 by Harper & Bros. and illustrated by Clement Hurd. Hurd had collaborated with Brown on several of their best-known books including Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny.  Hurd’s remarkable, dramatic illustrations perfectly compliment Brown’s poetic text as a brass band assembles, one by one, traveling to town and follows them through the day until they depart, reversing their numbers into the night. A first edition and printing in Fine condition in a VG+ dust jacket with several small closed tears. A previous owner’s name neatly written on the front endpaper.