The points of issue
First printing is identified by the number line 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 on the copyright page (it contains the 1; note it does not literally end in 1). Neal Porter Books / Roaring Brook Press imprint; Erin Stead's woodblock-and-pencil illustrations; priced dust jacket. The true-first jacket carries no Caldecott Medal seal, awarded in 2011.
Is this the true first?
The US Roaring Brook Press / Neal Porter hardcover of 2010 is the true first edition; it won the 2011 Caldecott Medal. The first-printing jacket predates the seal.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings add the Caldecott Medal seal to the jacket. Book-club editions are typically unpriced and are not firsts.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Sick Day for Amos McGee a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing is identified by the number line 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 on the copyright page (it contains the 1; note it does not literally end in 1). Neal Porter Books / Roaring Brook Press imprint; Erin Stead's woodblock-and-pencil illustrations; priced dust jacket. The true-first jacket carries no Caldecott Medal seal, awarded in 2011.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The US Roaring Brook Press / Neal Porter hardcover of 2010 is the true first edition; it won the 2011 Caldecott Medal. The first-printing jacket predates the seal.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings add the Caldecott Medal seal to the jacket. Book-club editions are typically unpriced and are not firsts.
I have a first edition of A Sick Day for Amos McGee — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.