The Magician's Elephant

By Kate DiCamillo

Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka

"Magic is always impossible," said the magician. "It begins with the impossible and ends with the impossible and is impossible in between. That is why it is magic."

What if? Why not? Could it be? When a fortune-teller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he must ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortune-teller's mysterious answer (An elephant! An elephant will lead you there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it is true. With atmospheric illustrations by fine artist Yoko Tanaka, here is a dreamlike and captivating tale that could only be told 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.

Categories: Fiction

For readers aged: 8+

  • Publication details:
  • Format: Hardback
  • ISBN: 9781406324471
  • Published: 07 Sep 2009
  • Price: £8.99
  •  
  • Size: 198 x 129 mm
  • Pages: 208

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Customer reviews

Reviews

'Candlewick’s acquisition of this title and film rights sale to Fox announced.' Publishers Weekly

'Acquisition mentioned' Publisher’s Lunch e-newsletter

'Acquisition mentioned' Publishers Weekly

'Acquisition mentioned' Shelf Awareness

'This is a wildly imaginative book that uses a dream-like fairytale to explore the endless possibilities created by hoping and believing.' Daily Mail

'A gently wrought tale which reads like a Paulo Coelho for children…Illustrated beautifully…Will warm the heart of any reader' Western Daily Press

'A mesmerising fable of love and hope; a tale that will captivate readers of all ages' Junior Education Plus

'Elegant, timeless and utterly heart-breaking' The Independent on Sunday

'DiCamillo writes here in a register entirely her own, a mood of sober magic...heartfelt. The style may evoke Calvino, but the substance belongs to Christmas.'' The New York Times

'haunting illustrations…a story written with greatest economy and simplicity' The Tablet

'Featured/recommended' Standard-Examiner

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Hardback
£8.99

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