The Magician's Elephant
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Product Description
Book Description
"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."
Product Description
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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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This is a modern classic in the making. Why? The author Kate DiCamillo has crafted a story that contains echoes of Hans Christian Andersen and The Brothers Grimm. It is, however, no mere pastiche but a story that could have been written or read at any time over the last hundred years. Reading it to my children was like being taken back in time to my own childhood. It is a warm and lovely experience.
The story itself is a tale of love, loss and regret that unravels after the elephant of the title literally appears out of thin air in an old town. The characters each have a job to do that moves the story along and that is the only slight weakness. One or two of the peripheral characters seem mere ciphers but the central characters are well drawn if ultimately secondary to the story itself. I have no hesitation in recommending this as a fantastic book for shared reading.
The story itself is a tale of love, loss and regret that unravels after the elephant of the title literally appears out of thin air in an old town. The characters each have a job to do that moves the story along and that is the only slight weakness. One or two of the peripheral characters seem mere ciphers but the central characters are well drawn if ultimately secondary to the story itself. I have no hesitation in recommending this as a fantastic book for shared reading.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a very strange book, I have never read anything like it before. Kate Diccamilo has succeeded in creating a magical fantasy unlike any other. The book starts of strangely but once you start reading you really get into the rythm of the book. The story changes a lot as it is not only taken from the main characters point of view, it is tsken from many different peoples perspectives. A nice quick read and a very enjoyable book. This book takes you into the story and it really is a wonderful story. :):)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Everything about this book is simply beautiful: It is wonderfully produced and illustrated, a real pleasure to hold - and that's before DiCamillo's words are even considered.
This tale reads strangely old-fashioned. DiCamillo uses the dated style of telling rather than showing and here it works, it makes the story feel timeless which in turn suits the narrative.
Haunting, magical, tragic and funny. A unique book.
This tale reads strangely old-fashioned. DiCamillo uses the dated style of telling rather than showing and here it works, it makes the story feel timeless which in turn suits the narrative.
Haunting, magical, tragic and funny. A unique book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Mixed feelings about this one.
I am still reading the Magicians Elephant at the moment, but I don't really know what to make of it. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Emma Woodhouse
A book about believing in the impossible
Ths story follows the plight of an orphaned boy named Peter. From an early age he was told that his baby sister died at birth but then he meets a fortune-teller and then has a... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr T Niwa
A Great Story, but ...
As a grandmother, I like to read the books I buy before giving them to my 7-year old granddaughter. I loved this, but - like all Kate DiCamillo's stories - it does have some... Read more
Published 17 months ago by T. Full
I enjoyed it
I am not sure how much I can add to the other reviews that are written here.
I enjoyed this book for what it is, a charming, modern fairy story well told. Read more
I enjoyed this book for what it is, a charming, modern fairy story well told. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Doug
Evocative but hollow
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... Read more
When a fortuneteller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he... Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2010 by A. Wright
It was ok
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 Duchenne knows the questions that he must... Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2010 by Customer
This book is impossible.
I disliked this book. It was just so.... well, cutesy. So perfect fairytale, so magical and beautiful and terribly, terribly conscious of itself. Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2010 by J. E. M. Kneale
Whimsical and wonderful...
I fell in love with this book in the first few pages, but it took me a long time to finish it. I kept giving it away, convinced it was a classic in the making, and having to... Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2010 by DAR
Full of incomplete sentences and irritating repetition
Where do I start? Well, probably with why it gets 2 stars rather than one. I can sort of see how it's aiming at a quirky style of writing, and it may appeal to some. Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2010 by David Burton
Should appeal to lovers of Lemony Snickett
Somewhere in a far off land, in the city of Baltese ... around 100 years ago ... lived Peter Augustus Duchene, a young orphaned boy, a servant and apprentice soldier. Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2010 by E. Heckingbottom
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