The points of issue
True first is the 1967 Holt, Rinehart and Winston edition, stating the Holt, Rinehart and Winston imprint and dated 1967. Carle's original collage uses commercially available tissue papers, giving a flatter, muddier palette than the later repainted artwork. Confirm both the 1967 date and the HRW imprint.
Is this the true first?
The scarce 1967 HRW printing is the true first. Carle later produced new sets of artwork for the book; counting the original, there are four complete sets of illustrations. The widely circulated repainted version (with archival hand-painted papers and a brighter palette, plus a text change on the final page) is a 'first thus,' not the 1967 first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Almost all copies in commerce are the later re-illustrated trade editions or board-book adaptations rather than the 1967 first. The earlier version's text ends with a teacher/mother rather than the revised wording.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Crossover companion — Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the 1967 Holt, Rinehart and Winston edition, stating the Holt, Rinehart and Winston imprint and dated 1967. Carle's original collage uses commercially available tissue papers, giving a flatter, muddier palette than the later repainted artwork. Confirm both the 1967 date and the HRW imprint.
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 scarce 1967 HRW printing is the true first. Carle later produced new sets of artwork for the book; counting the original, there are four complete sets of illustrations. The widely circulated repainted version (with archival hand-painted papers and a brighter palette, plus a text change on the fi
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Almost all copies in commerce are the later re-illustrated trade editions or board-book adaptations rather than the 1967 first. The earlier version's text ends with a teacher/mother rather than the revised wording.
I have a first edition of The Crossover companion — Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? — 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.