# Is "The Magician's Elephant" by Kate DiCamillo a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press, 2009) is identified by: First printing carries a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and states Candlewick Press, 2009, illustrated by Yoko Tanaka. US Candlewick edition is the true first, published September 8, 2009.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing carries a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and states Candlewick Press, 2009, illustrated by Yoko Tanaka
- Bound in grey paper boards with gilt lettering on the spine, with light green endpapers and pastedowns
- 201 pages
- The first-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the rear panel
- Publisher imprint reads Candlewick Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Kate DiCamillo |
| Publisher | Candlewick Press |
| Year | 2009 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | First printing carries a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and states Candlewick Press, 2009, illustrated by Yoko… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First printing carries a complete number line ending in 1 on the copyright page and states Candlewick Press, 2009, illustrated by Yoko Tanaka. Bound in grey paper boards with gilt lettering on the spine, with light green endpapers and pastedowns; 201 pages. The first-issue dust jacket carries the printed price on the rear panel.

## Is this the true first?
US Candlewick edition is the true first, published September 8, 2009. Candlewick was then based in Somerville, Massachusetts.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings advance the number line so the 1 drops off.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Magician's Elephant* by Kate DiCamillo a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-magicians-elephant
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.