William Morrow, 1983 cover
Cover of the William Morrow, 1983 edition of this book. The MacRae 1983 jacket has not been photographed yet.
Identification points are listed only where two independent sources agree. Last reviewed 29 Oct 2026.
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The true first is the William Morrow edition, New York, 1983, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky; it won the 1984 Newbery Medal. The first British edition is the MacRae hardback, London, 1983 (copyright 1983), ISBN 0 86203 147 8, 133 pages, 22 cm, with Zelinsky's illustrations. Union catalogue records also date a Puffin paperback (ISBN 0 14 031797 X) to London 1983 and another Puffin issue to 1985, so the sources checked do not settle which British issue reached the shops first; the MacRae is the hardback. Macmillan issued an edition from Basingstoke in 1987 (ISBN 0 333 38836 4). No issue points or jacket price for the MacRae first are documented in the sources checked.
We have not yet confirmed the issue points that tell this first impression from later ones. Until we do, compare your copy's title page and copyright page with the publisher, place and year above: any later printing or edition statement means it is not this one.
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The cover image shows this book but may not be this edition or printing.
MacRae, London, in 1983, in hardback.
Points of issue are listed only where at least two independent sources agree. Last reviewed 29 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.
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