Book Summary:
This is the story of a porcelain rabbit and his journey to experience and give love. Edward Tulane is the rabbit of a young girl who loves him dearly. She takes the best care of him and provides him with all he could ever want. However, he feels no love in return and simply finds himself annoyed by her attempts to hold him close. The story takes him on a journey from her care to finding his way back to her. He experiences many humbling events and returns a different rabbit to love on not only the now grown girl, but her daughter as well. This is a story of the power of love.
APA Reference of Book:
DiCamillo, K. (2006). The miraculous journey of Edward Tulane. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.
Impressions:
My major impression of this book is that the theme is profound. It doesn't seem to forced, yet it is constantly there alongside the reader as they make their way through Edward's journey. The language is elevated for a children's book, however it is no so far above their heads that the story line is not simply captivating. While the beginning is a bit slow (purposefully so), once the journey begins the reader is left questioning how Edward, a character which seems so narcissistic and detached, will find his way through all that he comes into. The plot moves at an appropriate pace and the ending brings it all together. The illustrations are meaningful and help to put a picture of the emotion happening within the book. All in all, this is an excellent resource for both younger and advancing readers due to its content and language.
Professional Review:
Gr. 2-4. 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 beautifulis 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.
Reference:
Book review of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by K. DiCamillo. (2006). Booklist, 102(9). Retrieved from www.titlewave.com
Library Uses:
This text could be used as a read aloud for a character study where students have to listen and discuss how Edward's character changes and what we can learn through his experiences.
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