"Sam and the Firefly" written and illustrated by P. D. Eastman, published by Beginner Books A Division of Random House, New York, 1958. Stated Book Club Edition. "The Beginner Books/ I Can Read It All By Myself" with the Cat in the Hat logo was a book club for the early readers founded in 1958 by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel). Points of the early printing of the first edition: copyright 1958 without any other printings listed, no isbn, no barcode. [See photos].

Illustrated hard boards [some wear]; 6.3/4" x 9.1/4"; illustrated endpapers, 62 pages + blank, fully illustrated, a little soiling and wear, the back endpaper has a corner missing, very good condition.

An owl named Sam awakens one night and looks for a playmate, but since it is the middle of the night, all the other animals are asleep. Sam then comes across a series of flying lights, one of which hits Sam in the head, which is Gus, a firefly. Gus shows Sam the trick he can do, which is he can make glowing lines in midair using his light. Sam is amazed and decides to have fun by having Gus follow him directly as he flies. Sam flies in the shape of several words; Gus finds this fun and decides to do more on his own. However, he has mischief on his mind...

Philip Dey Eastman (1909-1986) was an American screenwriter, children's author, and illustrator. After studying at Phillips Academy Andover and Williston Academy, he graduated from Amherst College in 1933 and later from the National Academy of Design in New York City. From 1936 to 1941, Eastman worked at Walt Disney Productions in assistant animation, story-sketch, and production design. From 1941 to 1942, he worked in the story department of Leon Schlesinger Productions, Warner Bros.'s cartoon unit, and was a member of Local Number Eight Hundred And Thirty-Nine of Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists, the trade union representing cartoonists in the United States.

In 1942, Eastman was drafted by the Army and assigned to the Signal Corps film unit, which was headed by Theodor Geisel, who later became known as Dr. Seuss. Here, Eastman conducted picture planning for animated sequences in orientation and training films, and he also wrote scripts and drew storyboards for the Private Snafu series for Army-Navy Screen Magazine.

From 1945 to 1952, Eastman worked at United Productions of America (UPA). He was a writer and storyboard artist for the Mr. Magoo series. Eastman and Bill Scott co-wrote the screenplay for the animated comedy Gerald McBoing-Boing, which won an Academy Award for Short Subject, Cartoons, in 1950. Eastman also directed educational films and worked on the Flight Safety series for the United States Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics while at UPA.

Eastman, a protege and colleague of Theodor Geisel (pen name Dr. Seuss), wrote many books for children in his own distinct style. He worked with the Dr. Seuss brand of Random House, many of which were in the Beginner Books series.

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