The points of issue
Title is properly 'The Big Snow.' Macmillan imprint with the title page dated 1948. The first-printing dust jacket has no Caldecott Medal emblem on the front panel (the medal was awarded in 1949), and the rear flap lists only earlier Hader titles.
Is this the true first?
US true first is the 1948 Macmillan issue. Because the title page is dated 1948 on later printings as well, identification depends on the dust jacket.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings add the Caldecott Medal emblem to the jacket front panel.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Big Snow a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Title is properly 'The Big Snow.' Macmillan imprint with the title page dated 1948. The first-printing dust jacket has no Caldecott Medal emblem on the front panel (the medal was awarded in 1949), and the rear flap lists only earlier Hader titles.
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. US true first is the 1948 Macmillan issue. Because the title page is dated 1948 on later printings as well, identification depends on the dust jacket.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings add the Caldecott Medal emblem to the jacket front panel.
I have a first edition of The Big Snow — 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.