"A Fish Out of Water" by Helen Palmer Geisel (credited as Helen Palmer) and illustrated by P.D. Eastman. published by Beginner Books A Division of Random House, 1961. 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 first or early printing: copyright 1961 without any other printings or codes listed, no isbn, no barcode. [See photos].

Illustrated hard boards [some wear]; 6.3/4" x 9.1/4"; illustrated endpapers, "Nancy Harris / Grade 2" is pencil written inside front cover, some 'penciling' on the endpapers, backboard and last blank page [see photos]; 64 pages, fully illustrated, Nancy made mark on the first 15 pages [see photos]; some soiling and wear, good condition.

The book is based on a short story by Palmer's husband Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss), "Gustav, the Goldfish", which was published with his own illustrations in Redbook magazine in June 1950.

The story is about a boy who buys a fish from a pet store. The boy names the fish Otto. Mr. Carp, the owner, gives the boy instructions on how to care for the fish, including strict feeding instructions: "Never feed him a lot. Just so much, and no more! Never more than a spot! Or something may happen. You never know what." When the boy inadvertently disobeys these instructions out of compassion for his new pet, Otto begins to grow uncontrollably, quickly outgrowing his fishbowl. This leads the boy to move him into a series of successively larger containers, ending with the bathtub. When Otto outgrows the tub, the house begins to flood...

US: Priority (c.2-4 days) ------------- $12.50
Canada: 1st Class (c.2-7 weeks) ----- $28.50
World: 1st Class (c.2-10 weeks) ----- $42.50