Hey, Al by Yorinks, Arthur; Egielski, Richard (Illustrator) - 1986

New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1986. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine/near fine. Egielski, Richard. Quarto size, [32] pp., Caldecott Medal winner. The story of Al, who is a janitor, and his dog Eddie, who are sick and tired of their tiny apartment on the West Side. When a giant tropical bird shows up and transports them to what at first appears to be paradise, Al and Eddie discover that you need to be careful what you wish for; a touching moral tale about being happy with the good things you have, and the joy of friendship between an ordinary man and his dog. With illustrations by Richard Egielski, who has collaborated with the author, Arthur Yorinks, on other titles such as "Sid and Sol", which Maurice Sendak described as "a wonder", "Louis the Fish", and "It Happened in Pinsk"; this volume the winner of the 1987 Caldecott Medal.

___DESCRIPTION: Original blue cloth stamped in gilt to backstrip, tan endpapers, frontispiece an illustration of Al and Eddie, the story opens with a page of text facing a page of illustration, and as the story moves from the reality of everyday life into fantasy, it is displayed on double-spread pages with text inset in the illustration, providing a feeling of almost being taken over by the story - once we return to reality, we return to a page of text facing an illustration; quarto size (10.25" by 9.25"), [32] unnumbered pp., first edition. In a pictorial dust jacket with the original price of $13.95, summary of book on the front flap, publisher's ad for other titles by Yorinks and Egielski on the back flap, both panels a wrap-around illustration evocative of the story.

___CONDITION: A fine copy; the covers clean, the corners straight and unrubbed, the binding tight with solid hinges, the interior clean and bright, and free of prior owner markings; clean, crisp, as new. The dust jacket near fine, unclipped, clean with the colours bright, with a hint of sunning to the spine and a few bare traces of wear, mostly at the head of the spine. A lovely example of a heartwarming story.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.

___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.