The points of issue
First printing of the Hawthorn Books edition, New York, 1973, in publisher's cloth with dust jacket. No distinctive textual issue points are documented for this title; identify the first by the Hawthorn imprint and 1973 date with no later-printing statements on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
US first edition, Hawthorn Books, 1973. This was among Kantor's last novels.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings and any reprints would carry later dates or printing statements; no notable book-club issue is documented for the first printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Children Sing a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing of the Hawthorn Books edition, New York, 1973, in publisher's cloth with dust jacket. No distinctive textual issue points are documented for this title; identify the first by the Hawthorn imprint and 1973 date with no later-printing statements on the copyright page.
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 first edition, Hawthorn Books, 1973. This was among Kantor's last novels.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Later printings and any reprints would carry later dates or printing statements; no notable book-club issue is documented for the first printing.
I have a first edition of The Children Sing — 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.