# Is "Ramona and Her Mother" by Beverly Cleary a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Ramona and Her Mother by Beverly Cleary (William Morrow, 1979) is identified by: William Morrow first printing, dated 1979, with a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. US Morrow edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- William Morrow first printing, dated 1979, with a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page
- Bound in yellow cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, with tan endpapers
- Illustrated by Alan Tiegreen
- The 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 | 1979 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | William Morrow first printing, dated 1979, with a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
William Morrow first printing, dated 1979, with a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. Bound in yellow cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, with tan endpapers. Illustrated by Alan Tiegreen. The first-issue dust jacket carries the original printed price.

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

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions typically lack the printed jacket price and a complete number line. Note that Morrow in this period sometimes left a 'First Edition' statement on later printings, so the number line ending in 1 is the reliable point.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Ramona and Her Mother* by Beverly Cleary a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/ramona-and-her-mother
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.