Fly by Night. By Randall Jarrell. Inscribed by Illustrator Maurice Sendak. First Edition, First Printing. Farrar, Straus, Giroux. New York, 1976.

Randall Jarrell was a poet, literary critic, and children’s book author who made a lasting impact on American literature in the twentieth century. His poetry was particularly significant. His contemporaries praised him as some of the best poets of the era. Yet his children’s books have stood the test of time perhaps more robustly–including this volume, Fly by Night. It is a short story about a young boy who can fly at night. It is illustrated by acclaimed children’s book author Maurice Sendak. Known for his iconic illustrations and his ability to draw from many sources in his children’s books, Sendak’s accolades include the Caldecott Medal, the National Medal of Arts, the National Book Award in category Picture Books, and many others. In Fly by Night, Sendak is at his best. It is one of several books that he and Jarrell collaborated on–a classic work of children’s literature.

First edition, first printing is inscribed by Sendak to his longtime friend and editor, Judy Taylor Hough. It is in fine condition. Original cloth boards, fine. Text block fine. In the original dust jacket, fine.

A fine inscribed first edition of this Jarrell and Sendak favorite.