The World is Round is Gertrude Stein's only children's book and tells the story of a young girl named Rose who contemplates about who, what, and why she is - often expressing herself through rhyme and song - eventually making a long solo journey up a mountain. As with many of her writings, Stein plays with words and language throughout the book, incorporating her most famous line, Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose, several times in the story. Honoring the graphic beauty of the first publication, this edition is an exact facsimile - just slightly smaller in trim size - and features all of Clement Hurd's stunning blue and white line art printed on the rose pink paper that was so important to Stein. Hurd, best known for his work in Goodnight Moon, was selected by Stein herself from a field of competitors.
This edition showcases numerous highlights including: a revealing foreword by Clement Hurd's son, illustrator and author Thacher Hurd; an afterword by Clement Hurd's wife and erstwhile collaborator, Edith Thacher Hurd, which also sheds light on the children's book publishing scene in the 1930s; and images from the Hurd family archives such as Stein in France at the time of the book's writing, the real-life Rose, Clement Hurd at work, as well as with his wife and son, and correspondence between Clement Hurd and Gertrude Stein during their collaboration. Visually breathtaking and eternally modern, this special edition of The World is Round will appeal to new and old readers of this unique children's classic.