The points of issue
First edition 2020, Random House Books for Young Readers (New York); ISBN 9781524715700, published January 28, 2020. First printing states 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1 and a 2020 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 2021; also Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature.
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 When You Trap a Tiger a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 2020, Random House Books for Young Readers (New York); ISBN 9781524715700, published January 28, 2020. First printing states 'First Edition' with a number line ending in 1 and a 2020 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 2021; also Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature.
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 When You Trap a Tiger — 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.