# Is "Kira-Kira" by Cynthia Kadohata a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2004) is identified by: First edition 2004, Atheneum Books for Young Readers (New York). US true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition 2004, Atheneum Books for Young Readers (New York)
- First printing states 'First edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1 (2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1)
- Pictorial boards; first-state dust jacket has no Newbery seal
- Publisher imprint reads Atheneum Books for Young Readers
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Cynthia Kadohata |
| Publisher | Atheneum Books for Young Readers |
| Year | 2004 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | First edition 2004, Atheneum Books for Young Readers (New York) |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition 2004, Atheneum Books for Young Readers (New York). First printing states 'First edition' on the copyright page with a complete number line ending in 1 (2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1). Pictorial boards; first-state dust jacket has no Newbery seal.

## Is this the true first?
US true first edition. Newbery Medal awarded 2005.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Atheneum reprints drop the 'First edition' line or show a number line not ending in 1; post-award jackets add the Newbery seal; book-club editions lack a price on the flap.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Kira-Kira* by Cynthia Kadohata a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/kira-kira
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.