Would You Like to Play Hide & Seek in This Book with Lovable, Furry Old Grover?
Jon Stone (Writer); Mike Smollin (Illustrator)
📚 Genre
Children's Picture Book / Interactive Fiction
🏢 Publisher
Random House / Children's Television Workshop (CTW)
📅 Publication Year
1976
🔢 ISBN
039483321X (ISBN-10); 978-0394833217 (ISBN-13)
About This Book
An interactive children's book featuring the Sesame Street character Grover. Grover breaks the fourth wall, speaking directly to the reader and pleading with them not to turn the page or to play along with his game of hide-and-seek. The cover features Grover with a speech bubble against a yellow background and a blue checkered border with the 'Please Read to Me' corner logo.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
32 pages
Edition
Vintage Paperback (Pictureback Edition)
Series
A Sesame Street Pictureback; part of a larger collection of Random House Sesame Street collaborations.
Target Audience
Preschool / Children (Ages 2-5)
Collector Information
Condition
Fair to Good. Significant edge wear, corner scuffing, and board exposure are visible. The top right corner has a crease, and the blue checkered border shows color loss and white scuffs typical of heavy use by children.
Estimated Value
$5.00 - $12.00
Rarity
Common. While vintage, these books were mass-produced in the millions. Copies in pristine condition are uncommon, but heavily used copies like this one are widely available in the secondary market.
Historical Significance
A classic example of mid-70s interactive children's literature that popularized the concept of 'breaching the fourth wall' for young readers, following the massive success of its predecessor 'The Monster at the End of This Book'.
Collector Notes
Collectors look for copies with minimal 'spine roll' and crisp corners. Because these were printed on inexpensive paper stock, they are prone to yellowing (toning) and the covers easily lose pigment. To preserve, keep in a temperature-controlled environment away from direct sunlight.
Similar Books
The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone; Lovable Furry Old Grover's Resting Places by Jon Stone; Grover and the Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum by Linda Hayward.
Notable Features
Includes the '95 cent' original price mark; features the 'Please Read to Me' branding; uses the classic Jim Henson Muppet character licensing.