# Is "Ellen Tebbits" by Beverly Cleary a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Ellen Tebbits by Beverly Cleary (William Morrow, 1951) is identified by: William Morrow US first, Cleary's second book. US Morrow first edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- William Morrow US first, Cleary's second book
- Identify by a 1951 copyright date with no additional-printing statement on the copyright page, plus the first-issue jacket with the original printed price on the front flap
- Full yellow cloth with a girl's portrait in red and black on the front board; illustrated by Louis Darling
- Publisher imprint reads William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Beverly Cleary |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Year | 1951 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | William Morrow US first, Cleary's second book |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
William Morrow US first, Cleary's second book. Identify by a 1951 copyright date with no additional-printing statement on the copyright page, plus the first-issue jacket with the original printed price on the front flap. Full yellow cloth with a girl's portrait in red and black on the front board; illustrated by Louis Darling.

## Is this the true first?
US Morrow first edition is the true first. Use date-match plus absence of a later-printing notation rather than a number line for this early-1950s Morrow title.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are unpriced and on cheaper stock; later trade printings add a printing statement to the copyright page.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Ellen Tebbits* by Beverly Cleary a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/ellen-tebbits
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.