Book Cover
Image retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/05/24/top-100-childrens-novels-59-the-miraculous-journey-of-edward-tulane-by-kate-dicamillo/#_
Book Summary
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo is a story about Edward Tulane, who is a rabbit made of china. He is a gift to a 10-year-old girl, Abilene Tulane, by her grandmother. Abilene loves Edward and treats him with an excessive amount of respect. Edward only loves himself because he does not know how to love others. But Edward's life soon takes a dramatic turn. He falls off the ship the Tulanes travel on. He spends about 9 months on the ocean floor until a storm brings him to a fisherman. The fisherman takes Edward home to his wife and his wife renames Edward and gives him a dress to wear. Then Edwards is on a journey with several different owners: a homeless guy with a dog, a brother and a sister who eventually dies from being sick, and finally he is broken into thousands of pieces by accident. Edward ends up being repaired and on a shelf in a doll store. One day a lady comes into the store and recognizes that Edward is the rabbit made of china that she once owned and she buys Edward for her own little girl.
Reference
DiCamillo, Kate. (2006). The miraculous journey of Edward Tulane, Candlewick Press.
Librarian's Corner
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is a wonderful fiction that will gain interest from readers in the intermediate grades. Even though the setting is unfamiliar to the readers, it adds depth in this fictional story. This story contains many great examples of character traits. The plot also satisfies and teaches intermediate students about self-worth, self images, and loving self and others. Even though this book can be mistaken as a thick chapter book, the chapters are actually short and can be finished in a couple days. The illustrations found in the book are beautifully done and the story definitely will touch the readers deeply. I would be cautious with sensitive students though since the plot contains abandonment, neglect and home violence, and death.
Reviews
From Booklist
As she did in her Newbery Medal Book, The Tale of Despereaux (2004), DiCamillo tucks important messages into this story and once more plumbs the mystery of the heart--or, in this case, the heartless. Edward Tulane is a china rabbit with an extensive wardrobe. He belongs to 10-year-old Abilene, who thinks almost as highly of Edward as Edward does of himself. Even young children will soon realize that Edward is riding for a fall. And fall he does, into the sea, after mean boys rip him from Abilene's hands during an ocean voyage. Thus begins Edward's journey from watery grave to the gentle embrace of a fisherman's wife, to the care of a hobo and his dog, and into the hands of a dying girl. Then, pure meanness breaks Edward apart, and love and sacrifice put him back together--until just the right child finds him. With every person who taouches him, Edward's heart grows a little bit softer and a little bit bigger. Bruised and battered, Edward is at his most beautiful, and beautiful is a fine word to describe the artwork. Ibatoulline outdoes himself; his precisely rendered sepia-tone drawings and color plates of high artistic merit are an integral part of this handsomely designed package. Yet even standing alone, the story soars because of DiCamillo's lyrical use of language and her understanding of universal yearnings. This will be a pleasure to read aloud. Category: Books for the Young--Fiction. 2006, Candlewick, $18.99. Gr. 2-4. Starred Review.
As she did in her Newbery Medal Book, The Tale of Despereaux (2004), DiCamillo tucks important messages into this story and once more plumbs the mystery of the heart--or, in this case, the heartless. Edward Tulane is a china rabbit with an extensive wardrobe. He belongs to 10-year-old Abilene, who thinks almost as highly of Edward as Edward does of himself. Even young children will soon realize that Edward is riding for a fall. And fall he does, into the sea, after mean boys rip him from Abilene's hands during an ocean voyage. Thus begins Edward's journey from watery grave to the gentle embrace of a fisherman's wife, to the care of a hobo and his dog, and into the hands of a dying girl. Then, pure meanness breaks Edward apart, and love and sacrifice put him back together--until just the right child finds him. With every person who taouches him, Edward's heart grows a little bit softer and a little bit bigger. Bruised and battered, Edward is at his most beautiful, and beautiful is a fine word to describe the artwork. Ibatoulline outdoes himself; his precisely rendered sepia-tone drawings and color plates of high artistic merit are an integral part of this handsomely designed package. Yet even standing alone, the story soars because of DiCamillo's lyrical use of language and her understanding of universal yearnings. This will be a pleasure to read aloud. Category: Books for the Young--Fiction. 2006, Candlewick, $18.99. Gr. 2-4. Starred Review.
Cooper, Ilene. (January, 2006). [Review of the book The miraculous journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo]. Booklist, 102(9)
.From Kirkus Review
Once again, DiCamillo harkens back to an older storytelling style, filled with magic and the transformational power of love. Edward Tulane is a china rabbit-dapper and serious and more than a little superior. His mistress, Abilene Tulane, loved him and "thought almost as highly of Edward as Edward thought of himself." Edward is interested in little beyond his own comfort and beauty. Indeed, everyone except for Abilene's grandmother, Pellegrina, condescends to him. She commissioned his making, ordered his dapper clothing and smart pocket watch and, in the end, demanded a good deal more of Edward than he thought he wanted to give. Her warning, "You disappoint me," thrusts Edward into the adventure that becomes his life. He learns about love, loss and consequences. Somewhere between fairy tale and fable, DiCamillo spins the tale of Edward, transformed by the lives he touches. The reader will be transformed too. Sumptuous gouache illustrations complement the old-fashioned, dramatic narrative. Keep the tissues handy for this one. 2006, Candlewick, 228p, $18.99. Category: Fiction. Ages 7 up. Starred Review. © 2006 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
Kirkus. (January 2006). [Review of the book The miraculous journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo]. Kirkus Reviews, 74(2)/.
Value to the Library
Elementary School Library
The elementary school librarian can do a book talk on books that contain themes of journeys, survival, and dolls and toys such as: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll, Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, The Doll People and The Meaniest Doll in the World by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin, and The Sacrecrow and His Servant by Philip Pullman.
Elementary School Library
The elementary school librarian can do a book talk on books that contain themes of journeys, survival, and dolls and toys such as: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll, Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, The Doll People and The Meaniest Doll in the World by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin, and The Sacrecrow and His Servant by Philip Pullman.
No comments:
Post a Comment