The points of issue
The Macmillan Company imprint, copyright 1944. The first-printing copyright page carries both a 1944 Macmillan copyright and an earlier 1941 Macmillan copyright (the poem first appeared in 1941), with no notation of later printings. The first-state dust jacket bears no Caldecott seal, as the medal was awarded in 1945.
Is this the true first?
The US true first is the 1944 Macmillan issue.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings add the Caldecott medal to the jacket and may note additional impressions on the copyright page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Prayer for a Child a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: The Macmillan Company imprint, copyright 1944. The first-printing copyright page carries both a 1944 Macmillan copyright and an earlier 1941 Macmillan copyright (the poem first appeared in 1941), with no notation of later printings. The first-state dust jacket bears no Caldecott seal, as the medal was awarded in 1945.
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 true first is the 1944 Macmillan issue.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings add the Caldecott medal to the jacket and may note additional impressions on the copyright page.
I have a first edition of Prayer for a Child — 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.