# Is "Emily's Runaway Imagination" by Beverly Cleary a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Emily's Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary (William Morrow, 1961) is identified by: William Morrow first printing, with 1961 on both the title page and copyright page and no additional-printing or later-edition statement. US William Morrow first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- William Morrow first printing, with 1961 on both the title page and copyright page and no additional-printing or later-edition statement
- Bound in pink cloth stamped in black, with a Model T motor-car image to the front cover
- Illustrated by Joe and Beth Krush
- The scarce first-issue dust jacket carries the original printed price
- Publisher imprint reads William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Beverly Cleary |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Year | 1961 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | William Morrow first printing, with 1961 on both the title page and copyright page and no additional-printing or later-edition statement |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
William Morrow first printing, with 1961 on both the title page and copyright page and no additional-printing or later-edition statement. Bound in pink cloth stamped in black, with a Model T motor-car image to the front cover. Illustrated by Joe and Beth Krush. The scarce first-issue dust jacket carries the original printed price.

## Is this the true first?
US William Morrow first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the original jacket price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Emily's Runaway Imagination* by Beverly Cleary a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/emilys-runaway-imagination
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.