# Is "Ramona and Her Father" by Beverly Cleary a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary (William Morrow, 1977) is identified by: William Morrow first, dated 1977 on the title page, with a number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. US Morrow edition is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- William Morrow first, dated 1977 on the title page, with a number line ending in 1 on the copyright page
- First-issue dust jacket carries the original printed price and, on the earliest state, no Newbery Honor seal
- A Newbery Honor book for 1978
- Publisher imprint reads William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Beverly Cleary |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Year | 1977 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | William Morrow first, dated 1977 on the title page, with a number line ending in 1 on the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
William Morrow first, dated 1977 on the title page, with a number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. First-issue dust jacket carries the original printed price and, on the earliest state, no Newbery Honor seal. A Newbery Honor book for 1978.

## Is this the true first?
US Morrow edition is the true first. The first-state jacket predates the Newbery Honor seal, which was added to later jacket printings.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions typically lack the printed jacket price and a complete number line; later trade jackets add the Honor seal.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Ramona and Her Father* by Beverly Cleary a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/ramona-and-her-father
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.