How to identify a first printing
- First printing: number line ending in 1 on the copyright page (lowest digit present = the printing)
- Many Abrams children's titles also state 'First edition [year]' on the copyright page
- Amulet typically prints a '10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1' number line; presence of the 1 indicates first printing
Notable points & cautions
- Harry N. Abrams is an art-book house (founded 1949); Amulet (launched 2004) is its middle-grade/YA fiction imprint
- Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Amulet, 2007) is the marquee collected title; true firsts are identified by the full number line down to 1, with later printings raising the lowest digit and adding bestseller/award flags to the jacket
- Modern number-line convention is reliable for this house
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Amulet Books, Abrams Books for Young Readers, Abrams Appleseed (board/picture), Abrams ComicArts (graphic, crossover), Abrams Fanfare, Cameron Kids (Cameron + Company), Magic Cat (distributed). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Abrams Books for Young Readers / Amulet Books book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. First printing: number line ending in 1 on the copyright page (lowest digit present = the printing) Many Abrams children's titles also state 'First edition [year]' on the copyright page
Does Abrams Books for Young Readers / Amulet Books use a number line?
Many Abrams children's titles also state 'First edition [year]' on the copyright page
Is a book-club edition a Abrams Books for Young Readers / Amulet Books first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Harry N. Abrams is an art-book house (founded 1949); Amulet (launched 2004) is its middle-grade/YA fiction imprint
What era does this cover?
This covers Abrams Books for Young Readers / Amulet Books (Abrams 1949–present; Amulet 2004–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.
Abrams Books for Young Readers / Amulet Books titles with documented first-edition points
Each link opens that title’s specific points of issue — the exact marks that separate a true first printing from a later one.
- Awesome Friendly Kid: Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid (Jeff Kinney, 2019)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Jeff Kinney, 2007)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot (16) (Jeff Kinney, 2021)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever (6) (Jeff Kinney, 2011)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Överlöde (17) (Jeff Kinney, 2022)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (4) (Jeff Kinney, 2009)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down (11) (Jeff Kinney, 2016)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck (8) (Jeff Kinney, 2013)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess (19) (Jeff Kinney, 2024)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer (18) (Jeff Kinney, 2023)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School (10) (Jeff Kinney, 2015)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2) (Jeff Kinney, 2008)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End (15) (Jeff Kinney, 2020)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway (12) (Jeff Kinney, 2017)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (3) (Jeff Kinney, 2009)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (9) (Jeff Kinney, 2014)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown (13) (Jeff Kinney, 2018)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel (7) (Jeff Kinney, 2012)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth (5) (Jeff Kinney, 2010)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball (14) (Jeff Kinney, 2019)
- Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Adventure (Jeff Kinney, 2020)
- The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (Jeff Kinney, 2008)
- The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary (Jeff Kinney, 2010)