| The Magician's Elephant | 
| Author: Kate DiCamillo
Creator: Yoko Tanaka
Publisher: Candlewick
List Price: $16.99
Buy New: $9.00
as of 9/9/2010 02:11 CDT details
You Save: $7.99 (47%)
New (51) Used (19) Collectible (8) from $6.84
Seller: Weekend Reader Book Shop
Rating:  75 reviews
Sales Rank: 6,668
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Pages: 208
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.6 x 0.8
ISBN: 0763644102
EAN: 9780763644109
ASIN: 0763644102
Publication Date: September 8, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | ISBN13: 9780763644109 | | • | Condition: New | | • | Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
Amazon Best of the Month, September 2009: Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo--author of The Tale of Despereaux and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane-- has crafted another exquisite novel for young readers. The Magician's Elephant tells the tale of Peter Augustus Duchene, a ten-year-old orphan who receives an unbelievable piece of information from the local fortuneteller. Peter learns that his fate is tied to an elephant that has inexplicably fallen from the sky when a magician's trick goes terribly wrong. Why did it happen? And, how can an elephant possibly change the course of Peter's life? This darkly atmospheric, yet hopeful tale, demonstrates that when the answers to life’s big questions are opaque or unforthcoming, all is not lost. DiCamillo's rhythmic writing, combined with Yoko Tanaka's mysterious black-and-white illustrations, enchants and calls out to our sincerest wishes and dreams (recommended for readers ages 8-13). --Lauren Nemroff
Product Description
In a highly awaited new novel, Kate DiCamillo conjures a haunting fable about trusting the unexpected — and making the extraordinary come true.
What if? Why not? Could it be?
When a fortuneteller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller's mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it’s true. With atmospheric illustrations by fine artist Yoko Tanaka, here is a dreamlike and captivating tale that could only be narrated by Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo. In this timeless fable, she evokes the largest of themes — hope and belonging, desire and compassion — with the lightness of a magician’s touch.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 75
 Beautiful, magical, a perfect book. August 25, 2010
Maggie Hasbrouck (Atlanta GA)
I loved this book from the very first page. My 12 year old daughter and I were completely mesmerized. A perfect read aloud book if you don't mind some tears. Everything about this timeless, enchanting book is perfectly crafted. To my mind, a small masterpiece.
 The Magician's Elephant August 5, 2010
Jennifer Alderson (Charles1)
I want to start off my review by explaining how much I loved The Tale of Despereaux and The Mirsculous Journey of Edward Tulane (especially the second). Therefore, I must admit being mildly disappointed by this book. If I had not read the other two I would have loved it, but having read them it did not quite live up to their standard. Frankly, the story was beautiful and the characters interesting, but at times the language of the book seemed a tad precious and superficial. It is a very good book that is not quite great. But read it anyway (even if you're an adult); Kate DiCamillo's strength is that she is more heartwarming and thoughtful (at the same time) than the average children's book.
Read Aloud! Kids empowered! June 12, 2010
E. M. Delich (springfield, il)
After reading the diverse comments on this book, I think the comment about reading the book aloud makes most sense. This can provide adults brief opportunities to talk about the failings of adults and institutions in the story with children. I disagree that this book is too dark and unhappy for kids. The world is full of adults who fail kids every day. This story has the kids prevail in spite of the hapless adults around them. I agree the adult characters in her other books were just as bad, and often worse. Think of the men and boys in Tiger Rising; even his father wouldn't let him mourn the loss of his mother. The school bullies. The pathetic owner of the tiger. And, in Because of Winn-Dixie "The Preacher" had little time for his daughter. This isn't my favorite book by the author, but I think that is because it is so different. (I didn't read Edward, but all the rest.)
 I am easy to please, but this one was more chore than fun to read May 12, 2010
Jadecat (Lake Orion, MI United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I bought this for my 4th grader daughter. She had read a DiCamillo book in school, and loved it, and the premise of this book sounded promising. I decided to read it aloud and was glad I did, as some of the writing and words were beyond what my daughter could have read and understood. Granted, she isn't a brilliant, gifted reader, but she can handle books in her age group. Still, the story was a bit dreary and moved slowly. The soldier surrogate father, Vilna Lutz, to Peter was just a bit bizarre. I just didn't see how he added to the story. As I read the book, I couldn't envision anything beyond a grey city, constantly dreary where noone was ever really happy. When you read a book and let your imagination picture the scenery, you don't want grey, bleak pictures throughout the story.
I guess that sounds kind of harsh, but it's how we felt. I didn't get the sense that my kid was overly enthralled with the story either, and no, we didn't skim the book, and I didn't color my daughters view of the book while reading it.
cool March 31, 2010
Alan Kipust
i got it from a friend and i started to read it and i did not stop till i was dun
Showing reviews 1-5 of 75
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