How to Identify a Viking Children's Books (Viking Junior Books) / Penguin Young Readers Group First Edition

How to identify a first printing

• Viking historical: stated 'First published in (Year) by The Viking Press' / 'Published by The Viking Press in (Year)'; in the 1980s a number row was added to LATER printings only — so a first lacks the number line in that transitional period
• Modern Penguin house style across the children's imprints: full descending number line ending in 1, often with a stated 'First Edition' / 'First American Edition'
• Philomel and Dutton (Penguin children's imprints) likewise use the Penguin number-line-to-1 convention

Notable points & cautions

• Viking published Ludwig Bemelmans' Madeline, Robert McCloskey (Make Way for Ducklings — Caldecott), Don Freeman's Corduroy, the original Eric Carle The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Philomel)
• TRANSITION TRAP: for 1980s Viking, presence of a number line can indicate a LATER printing, opposite of the modern rule — date by the 'First published' statement for that era
• Frederick Warne (Beatrix Potter) firsts have their own complex early-1900s points and predate Penguin ownership entirely
• All now consolidated under Penguin Young Readers (Penguin Random House)

Imprints

First editions also appear under: Viking Children's Books, Frederick Warne (Beatrix Potter), Puffin Books, Philomel Books, G.P. Putnam's Sons BFYR, Grosset & Dunlap, Nancy Paulsen Books, Dutton Children's Books, Kokila, Razorbill, Speak (YA paperback). Each generally follows the house convention above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my Viking Children's Books (Viking Junior Books) / Penguin Young Readers Group book is a first edition?

Check the copyright page. Viking historical: stated 'First published in (Year) by The Viking Press' / 'Published by The Viking Press in (Year)'; in the 1980s a number row was added to LATER printings only — so a first lacks the number line in that transitional period Modern Penguin house style across the children's imprints: full descending number line ending in 1, often with a stated 'First Edition' / 'First American Edition'

Does Viking Children's Books (Viking Junior Books) / Penguin Young Readers Group use a number line?

Modern Penguin house style across the children's imprints: full descending number line ending in 1, often with a stated 'First Edition' / 'First American Edition'

Is a book-club edition a Viking Children's Books (Viking Junior Books) / Penguin Young Readers Group first edition?

No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Viking published Ludwig Bemelmans' Madeline, Robert McCloskey (Make Way for Ducklings — Caldecott), Don Freeman's Corduroy, the original Eric Carle The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Philomel)

What era does this cover?

This covers Viking Children's Books (Viking Junior Books) / Penguin Young Readers Group (1933–present (Viking children's); Penguin number-line era 1980s–present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.