Don Freeman’s cartoon narrative, It Shouldn’t Happen (to a Dog), tells the tale of a raw army recruit who morphs into a dog, and what happened to him “shouldn’t happen to a dog”.

2nd page of Don Freeman's 1945 near wordless novel, It Shouldn't Happen
2nd page of Don Freeman’s 1945 near wordless novel, It Shouldn’t Happen.

NOTE: There appear to be at least two versions of the 1945 publication. Some differences are:

  • The back dust jacket flap for one version is blank, while the other has reviews of the book, and
  • Under the copyright notice, one version states “first edition” while the other has “[b.7.45]”

These differences can be seen in the images below.

Title: It Shouldn’t Happen (to a Dog)
Author and Illustrator: Don Freeman
Date of publication: 1945
ISBN: not applicable
Publisher: Harcourt, Brace and Company
Place of publication: New York, NY
Printer:?
Copyright: Don Freeman
Dimensions: 8 1/4″ tall
Dust jacket: Yes – designed by the artist?
Binding: hardcover
Cover: paper-covered
Language: English titles, etc
Unpaginated
Printed: verso and recto
Edition: Trade only
Description: [212] p. 174 ill. Cartoon narrative in which a raw army recruit suddenly changes into a dog, and what happened to him “shouldn’t happen to a dog”.

Dust Jacket for version stating "first edition" of Don Freeman's 1945 near wordless novel, It Shouldn't Happen
Dust Jacket for the version stating “first edition” of Don Freeman’s
1945 near-wordless novel, Notice the rear
flap is blank. Issue price is $2.00
During and after the war, civic-minded citizens
were encouraged to buy government bonds.
Alternative version of rear dust jacket flap of Don Freeman's 1945 near wordless novel, It Shouldn't Happen. It has reviews of the book.
Alternative version of the rear dust jacket flap of Don
Freeman’s 1945 near-wordless novel, It Shouldn’t
Happen. It has reviews of the book.
Image credit: ThingsUneek
Spine with front and back covers of Don Freeman's 1945 near wordless novel, It Shouldn't Happen. Cover is paper covered.
Spine with front and back covers of Don Freeman’s
1945 near wordless novel, It Shouldn’t Happen.
Cover is paper-covered.
Half title page of Don Freeman's 1945 near wordless novel, It Shouldn't Happen.
Half title page of Don Freeman’s 1945
near wordless novel, It Shouldn’t Happen.
Frontis and title page of Don Freeman's 1945 near wordless novel, It Shouldn't Happen.
Frontis and title page of Don Freeman’s 1945
near-wordless novel.
Copyright and dedication page of Don Freeman's 1945 near wordless novel, It Shouldn't Happen. Stated as "first edition". BTW Lydia was Don's wife.
Copyright and dedication page of Don Freeman’s 1945
near wordless novel, It Shouldn’t Happen. Stated as
“first edition”. BTW, Lydia was Don’s wife.

Note the following image has a different copyright description [b.7.45] – if anyone has any information as to the meaning, please advise wn@wordlessnovels.com.

Alternative 1945 publication of Don Freeman's 1945 near wordless novel, It Shouldn't Happen with version showing [b.7.45] - perhaps suggesting publication was July 1945.
Alternative 1945 publication of Don Freeman’s 1945
near wordless novel, It Shouldn’t Happen with version
showing [b.7.45] – perhaps suggesting publication was July 1945.
Image credit: ThingsUneek
First page of Don Freeman's 1945 near wordless novel, It Shouldn't Happen with the first sentence of the book, "It shouldn't Happen ---- To a Dog".
First page of Don Freeman’s 1945 near wordless
novel, It Shouldn’t Happen with the first sentence
of the book, “It shouldn’t Happen —- To a Dog”.
2nd page of Don Freeman's 1945 near wordless novel, It Shouldn't Happen.
2nd page of Don Freeman’s 1945 near
wordless novel, It Shouldn’t Happen.

Later Publications

1947

  • Date of publication: 1947
  • Publisher: Harcourt Brace and Co
  • Place of publication: USA
  • Binding: hardcover

If you have pictures of the 1947 edition, particularly the publication page, please send them to me. A credit line will be given to you for any information provided.

wn@wordlessnovels.com

2014/2015 Dover

Cover of Dover's 2014 reprint of Don Freeman's 1945 near wordless novel, It Shouldn't Happen.
Cover of Dover’s 2014 reprint of Don Freeman’s
1945 near wordless novel, It Shouldn’t Happen.

Dover Synopsis: Army life didn’t agree with GI Albert C. Bedlington, Jr. He felt like he was always crawling on all fours, and one day when the very thing he’d feared for months finally happened–he had become a dog! The fellas all recognized him, so he carried on as usual, going on a furlough, visiting the USO, getting in and out of trouble, and serving with the K-9 corps. Recounted chiefly in winsome illustrations, this fantasy was written and drawn by Don Freeman, author of Corduroy and other children’s books. His witty and unusual take on World War II-era life among the enlisted men and on the home front was hailed by the Philadelphia Inquirer as a “”fantastic and captivating story”” and by the Chicago Tribune as “”wonderful fun.””

  • Publisher: Dover Publications Inc.
  • Foreword: Todd DePastino
  • Binding: Paperback
  • Pages : 224
  • Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 inches
  • Publication Date: 15th August 2014
  • Books ISBN: 0486782107

COMMENTS

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