# Is "Runaway Ralph" by Beverly Cleary a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary (William Morrow, 1970) is identified by: William Morrow first edition, published 1970, with the copyright page showing no statement of a later printing. The US William Morrow edition of 1970 is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- William Morrow first edition, published 1970, with the copyright page showing no statement of a later printing
- Sequel to The Mouse and the Motorcycle
- Illustrated by Louis Darling, the last Cleary title he illustrated before his death
- First-issue dust jacket retains the original front-flap price
- Publisher imprint reads William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Beverly Cleary |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Year | 1970 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Children's / illustrated |
| Key point | William Morrow first edition, published 1970, with the copyright page showing no… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
William Morrow first edition, published 1970, with the copyright page showing no statement of a later printing. Sequel to The Mouse and the Motorcycle. Illustrated by Louis Darling, the last Cleary title he illustrated before his death. First-issue dust jacket retains the original front-flap price.

## Is this the true first?
The US William Morrow edition of 1970 is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions are unpriced and lack the Morrow first-printing dust jacket points.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Runaway Ralph* by Beverly Cleary a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/runaway-ralph
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.