The Magician's Elephant

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

What a wonderful, magical book.

It lets you believe that absolutely anything is possible, that magic is strong, that people are good and elephants can appear and disappear when needed. Filled with hope, this story follows a young orphan, Peter, who spends the one florin that is meant for he and his benefactors supper of two day old bread and very small fish, on a visit to the fortuneteller. Where he is told that his sister lives and to find her he must follow the elephant. And so begins the tale of unlikely happenings, unlikely heroes and a group of unlikely conspirators.

Here's some brilliant writing done once again by Kate DiCamillo -

"That is surely the truth, at least for now. But perhaps you have not noticed: the truth is forever changing." (the fortuneteller)

"It is important that you say what you mean to say. Time is too short. You must speak words that matter."

"What if?", Why not?, Could it be?"

"What are we to make of a world where stars shine bright in the midst of so much darkness and gloom?"

"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."

The illustrations are in black and white and softly surreal, perfect for the dark, wintery city and the glimmers of magic.