How to identify a first printing
- Full number line on copyright page; first printing includes/begins effectively with '1' — Scholastic uses interleaved year/printing strings (e.g. '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2' followed by year codes). If the printing portion does not reach 1, it is a later printing
- Frequently states the edition: e.g. 'First American edition, October 1998' (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
- Watch for the small 'Printed in the U.S.A. 23' style line; combine the stated edition line with the number line
Notable points & cautions
- Harry Potter US firsts (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic) are the marquee modern children's points-of-issue: Sorcerer's Stone true first = full number line with 1 present AND 'First American edition, October 1998' on copyright page
- Scholastic Book Clubs / Scholastic Book Fairs editions are NOT trade firsts — they often carry distinct ISBNs, 'SCHOLASTIC' club markings, no price, and a different printing string; a giant source of confusion for HP and Captain Underpants
- Arthur A. Levine left in 2019 to found Levine Querido (independent, distributed by Chronicle) — post-2019 'Levine' books are a different company
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Arthur A. Levine Books (historical; now Levine Querido, separate), Scholastic Press, Orchard Books (US), Cartwheel Books, Blue Sky Press, Chicken House (distributed), The Blue Sky Press, Graphix, Klutz, Scholastic Inc.. Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Scholastic (Scholastic Press / Arthur A. Levine Books) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Full number line on copyright page; first printing includes/begins effectively with '1' — Scholastic uses interleaved year/printing strings (e.g. '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2' followed by year codes). If the printing portion does not reach 1, it is a later printing Frequently states the edition: e.g. 'First American edition, October 1998' (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
Does Scholastic (Scholastic Press / Arthur A. Levine Books) use a number line?
Frequently states the edition: e.g. 'First American edition, October 1998' (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
Is a book-club edition a Scholastic (Scholastic Press / Arthur A. Levine Books) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Harry Potter US firsts (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic) are the marquee modern children's points-of-issue: Sorcerer's Stone true first = full number line with 1 present AND 'First American edition, October 1998' on copyright page
What era does this cover?
This covers Scholastic (Scholastic Press / Arthur A. Levine Books) (1920–present (Scholastic Press trade imprint 1990s onward)). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.
Scholastic (Scholastic Press / Arthur A. Levine 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.
- Big Tree (Brian Selznick, 2023)
- Catching Fire (Hunger Games 2) (Suzanne Collins, 2009)
- Esperanza Rising (Pam Muñoz Ryan, 2000)
- Gregor and the Code of Claw (Underland 5) (Suzanne Collins, 2007)
- Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods (Underland 3) (Suzanne Collins, 2005)
- Gregor and the Marks of Secret (Underland 4) (Suzanne Collins, 2006)
- Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane (Underland 2) (Suzanne Collins, 2004)
- Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles 1) (Suzanne Collins, 2003)
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (J. K. Rowling, 1998)
- Henry's Freedom Box (Ellen Levine (illus. Kadir Nelson), 2007)
- Here's to You, Rachel Robinson (Judy Blume, 1993)
- Just as Long as We're Together (Judy Blume, 1987)
- Missing May (Cynthia Rylant, 1992)
- Mockingjay (Hunger Games 3) (Suzanne Collins, 2010)
- Northern Lights (His Dark Materials 1) (Philip Pullman, 1995)
- Northern Lights (US title: The Golden Compass) (Philip Pullman, 1995)
- Out of the Dust (Karen Hesse, 1997)
- Sunrise on the Reaping (Suzanne Collins, 2025)
- The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials 3) (Philip Pullman, 2000)
- The Arrival (Shaun Tan, 2006 (Australia) / 2007 (US))
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Suzanne Collins, 2020)
- The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins, 2008)
Documenting 30 Scholastic (Scholastic Press / Arthur A. Levine Books) titles in all — browse the full title-by-title library →