The points of issue
First printing has a Scholastic number line counting down to 1; Scholastic Press imprint; Kadir Nelson oil illustrations; true-first jacket bears NO Caldecott Honor or Coretta Scott King seal, as those were awarded in 2008.
Is this the true first?
The US Scholastic Press edition of 2007 is the true first. It was named a 2008 Caldecott Honor Book and received a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, so the true-first jacket predates the seals.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings add the Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King seals; book-club editions differ.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Henry's Freedom Box a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing has a Scholastic number line counting down to 1; Scholastic Press imprint; Kadir Nelson oil illustrations; true-first jacket bears NO Caldecott Honor or Coretta Scott King seal, as those were awarded in 2008.
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 Scholastic Press edition of 2007 is the true first. It was named a 2008 Caldecott Honor Book and received a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, so the true-first jacket predates the seals.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings add the Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King seals; book-club editions differ.
I have a first edition of Henry's Freedom Box — 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.