Early printing of the subversive update to DICK AND JANE, based upon the idea that kids would get more excited about reading if they enjoyed the material.
Very good in very good jacket.
Price: $400.00
"[First graders] still want to laugh at something that's ridiculous." – Dr. Seuss
Challenged to create a reader for young children using only 220 different words, Seuss tricked kids into enjoying learning with his destructive and charismatic house guest. Inspired in part by Krazy Kat and Felix the Cat, but with a wily mind all his own, the Cat in the Hat's humor and naughtiness are engaged in the noble cause of literacy. "Parents," notes biographer Brian Jay Jones, "were more than happy to join Dr. Seuss as fellow revolutionaries. Even if parents didn't necessarily understand the pedagogy, it was easy to see the difference between the staid DICK AND JANE and the rambunctious CAT IN THE HAT: kids wanted to read about the antics of the cat, just as Geisel had hoped." The first book featuring the US literary icon.
Read more: Younger, Younger, First Editions of Dr. Seuss Books: A Guide to Identification, item 7; Jones, Becoming Dr. Seuss.
New York: Random House, (1957). 9'' x 6.5''. Original flat paper over boards (not glazed paper). In original unclipped (195/195) dust jacket, no mention of Beginner Books series (see Younger p.28). 61, [1] pages. Contemporary ink owner inscription on front free endpaper. Moderate wear to board edges, with spotting to corner of front board and some soiling. Jacket with 2.5'' closed tear to front panel, with some light rubbing, soiling, and chipping.
We work hard to meet our ethical responsibility to describe our material accurately. All items are guaranteed as described and may be returned for any reason within 30 days. Please notify us before mailing a return.
We guarantee the authenticity of our items. All materials are original (meaning not facsimiles or reproductions) unless otherwise noted. First editions (meaning first edition, first printing) are explicitly stated. TPM is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and upholds their Code of Ethics.
All photographs are of the actual item for sale. We're happy to provide additional images on request.
All domestic orders ship gratis. For orders under $250, free USPS media mail shipping is included; orders $250 and over ship USPS Priority. International orders over $500 also ship gratis. Expedited, overnight, as well as other carriers (UPS, Fed-Ex, etc.), may carry additional costs beyond quoted rates. All orders receive tracking information and a direct contact in case of any questions.
International buyers are responsible for any customs, taxes, and related import fees. Please note that we are unable to accomodate requests to misrepresent, misdeclare, or otherwise falsify customs documents when shipping internationally. We appreciate your understanding.
We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, Venmo, check, money order, and bank wire. We are happy to bill institutional buyers' needs. Sales tax will be added to applicable purchases. Items subject to prior sale.
If for any reason you are dissatisfied with your purchase, please contact us. We prioritize our long-term relationships far above any individual purchase, and we want you to love your item as much as we loved cataloguing it.
Type Punch Matrix is a Washington D.C.-area rare book firm founded by Rebecca Romney and Brian Cassidy.
Read more about TPM.
