The points of issue
First edition 2024, Greenwillow Books / HarperCollins (New York); ISBN 9780063337312, published March 5, 2024. Per HarperCollins practice the first printing states 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1 and a 2024 copyright. Pictorial boards; first-state jacket without the Newbery seal.
Is this the true first?
US true first; no competing UK or Canadian precedence. Newbery Medal 2025; also a National Book Award finalist.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Absence of the 'First Edition' statement or a number line not ending in 1 indicates a later printing; post-award jackets add the seal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The First State of Being a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 2024, Greenwillow Books / HarperCollins (New York); ISBN 9780063337312, published March 5, 2024. Per HarperCollins practice the first printing states 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1 and a 2024 copyright. Pictorial boards; first-state jacket without the Newbery seal.
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; no competing UK or Canadian precedence. Newbery Medal 2025; also a National Book Award finalist.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Absence of the 'First Edition' statement or a number line not ending in 1 indicates a later printing; post-award jackets add the seal.
I have a first edition of The First State of Being — 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.