Help, I don't want to have to google French school girls!!!

[OuchyMcOuch]

What's the name of a French children's book, it's about a group of school girls in Paris, beautiful illustrations, they are taught by nuns I think in the old fashioned wimple style costumes. The little girls wore boaters I think.... Desperately trying to remember the name of the books, I thought the girl was called Matilda but the on,y thing that comes up when I google that is the Roald Dahl version.

Does anyone have any clues or am I just rambling incoherently?

Is it the Madeline books? Can't remember the author. Will have a google.

Madeleine?

In an old house in Paris all covered in vines...

Ludwig Bemelmans

Madeline. Ludwig de Bemelman?

Lived 12 little girls in 2 straight lines...

I think Madeline too. Google it, there is a rather lovely cartoon version on one of the TV channels I love but my DC won't watch.

In two straight lines they broke their bread...

Brushed their teeth and went to bed.

Just googled and Madeline looks just like Emily Elizabeth from the hideous Clifford - maybe DC were right to reject!

Its Madeline! Best appreciated when read by

Theres also the Happy Orpheline (they go to the dog cemetary) and A Brother for the Orphelines (baby boy left at the door, they want to keep him but can't because he's a boy). The main character is Josine

Madeline in London is fab too and lots of great illustrations of London landmarks

In the middle of the night, Miss Clavell turned on the light...

Pepito!

(As an aside, I always wondered as a child why Miss Clavell was named 'Miss Clavell' and not Sister Mary-Andrew, or some such. Surely, she was a nun?)

Woohoo Madeleine! That's it! Thank you so much! I knew her name started with an M