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This is the real one. The copyright page shows the full number line H 10 9 8 7, which confirms this is a first edition, first printing, published by Houghton Mifflin in 1984. ISBN 0-395-35393-9. This book has been a classroom staple and a cult favorite for forty years, and the first edition with that number line intact is what collectors specifically search for.
For anyone who doesn\'t know Harris Burdick: Van Allsburg created fourteen haunting graphite drawings, each with only a title and a single caption, no story. The premise is that a mysterious illustrator named Harris Burdick dropped these off at a publisher\'s office in 1984 and was never seen again. The images range from eerie to quietly devastating, and every one of them is designed to make your brain fill in the narrative. It became one of the most assigned creative writing prompts in American schools and has stayed in print continuously because it genuinely works on both kids and adults.
The drawings themselves are done in Van Allsburg\'s signature high-contrast graphite with that slightly surreal, heavy-atmosphere quality he also brought to Jumanji and The Polar Express, both Caldecott winners. This book did not win the Caldecott but it may be his most enduring work in terms of cultural footprint.
Please look at photos closely for condition. Packed and shipped with care from a smoke-free home. Check out my shop for hundreds of high-quality vintage objects, quality clothing, hand made items, and antique books. Combined discounted shipping always available. Questions welcome... I love to meet my customers! Alexandra, AKA Delicious Alex 📚 📦 💌
