Robert May wrote this book for his employer, Montgomery-Ward Stores, and it was originally published in 1939 in soft-cover form and given as a Christmas freebie for children.  Wards later gave the rights to May and Maxton published it in hard-copy in 1946.  The book being offered is the 1946 version. 

 

FYI, May wrote the song lyrics and the first recording came out in 1949, sung by Gene Autry, after it was declined by Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore.