I really loved this book. I do not want to review it in any academic way at all. I mostly want to say that I loved this book and recommend that everyone read it.
I have to thank Bonnie for bringing home The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo. She keeps up with what is designated as children's literature better than I do, and I often benefit from her vigilence. I am very glad to have read this book. In fact, I have now heard the audiobook and read the hardbound book.
At 198 pages The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is actually fairly long for a children's book, but the print is big and the story only takes a couple of hours to read. It can be described as a chapter book about a toy rabbit who learns how to love and be loved, but I think it is much more than that. The one-thing-after-another story remindes me of great classic tales, like Vanity Fair or Homer's Odyssey, but it is much easier to read.
I suspect that The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane would be a great gift to someone (young or old) who has experience the loss of friends or relatives by death or divorce or other circumstances. I am sure that many readers will identify with Edward, who loses so many friends. Edward is honest about his feelings, and the story is not sappy, as it could be if it were not so well written.
I am glad that I checked out the hardbound edition after hearing the story on CD. The illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline are superb.
Head to your library today. Ask for Kate DiCamillo's latest book.
DiCamillo, Kate. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Cambridge: Candlewick Press, 2006. ISBN 0763625892
On two compact discs: New York: Random House/Listening Library, 2006. ISBN 0307245950
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4 comments:
Would you think that someone who hated The Tale of Despereaux might like this one? I'll probably read it anyway, since everyone's raving about it, but I hate to waste another $12.
Sorry, I did not read the other book, so I have no answer. I thought this was well done and I urge you to try it. Get it from the library and you won't have the money issue.
I really did not like Despereaux, which I thought had a very cutesy and intrusive narrative tone. And I wasn't crazy about Winn-Dixie either. But I really liked this book. Having said that, I think it is almost too upsetting for many children. It's not clear to me who the intended audience is; I'd love to ask that of DiCamillo.
The book is pretty challenging emotionally, but I think a book might be a good introduction to heartbreak. Some tough books are considered children's classics. I think first of Black Beauty.
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