Genre Category: Fantasy
Age Range: Ages 7 to 12
Assessment of the book’s quality: The book is accompanied by lovely black and white illustrations. The writing is succinct and simple with no "fancy" vocabulary used. Chapters are short and line spacing is almost double-spaced
Assessment of the book’s potential use: The book is fantastic to use for summer reading program and for pleasure reading, providing the opportunity to read about a journey that teaches ethical dilemmas and values and allowing children to experience it themselves.
Assessment of the book’s child appeal: Appealing for children interested in fantasy and who would like to know what their toys feel!
Summary:
The story is about a china toy rabbit, named Edward Tulane, who for the first time experiences his "first genuine and true emotion" as he sinks into the deep ocean, away from his mistress, eleven year old Abilene, who loved and cared for him very much. The rabbit was a specially commissioned gift to Abilene on her seventh birthday from her grandmother. When Abilene's family prepares to leave for England, the grandmother, old Pellegrina, tells a bedtime story to Abilene and Edward about a beautiful princess who had no feelings and who cared less and is turned into a warthog by a witch. Edward waits an waits for Abilene to come and rescue him from the bottom of the sea and recalls Pellegrina's story comparing him with the princess. And only on the 297th on the ocean's depths a big storm lifts him from the ocean floor and he is caught into a fisherman's net. So for a time being he lives with the fisherman and his wife in their cozy cottage. But again something terrible happens and this time Edward is thrown into a trash heap where he remains until a hobo and his dog find him and take him with them on their journey. And so goes from hand to hand, ending up being a scarecrow, and belonging to a girl, Sarah Ruth, very ill with pneumonia and his brother, Bryce. Who love him and he reciprocates her love. So, on his long journey, Edward learns the unfairness and unkindness of life, his heart grows and grows and learns that it's not only through the comfort of life that one learns and appreciates life but through life's challenges, too. He learns what love is. And perhaps a quote from the end of the book best completes this summary: "If you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless." At the end Edward finds himself in a doll shop and is purchased by already grown Abilene for her five year old daughter
Reaction and Impressions:
This is a the type of story that you don't want to end and want Edward's journey to continue on and on. The novel has short chapters and simple font and wide spacing between the lines, making it an easy and enjoyable read especially for struggling readers or children who have difficulty reading (such as dyslexia). The story can easily gravitate young readers to find out what happens next. It's a great story of love and affection.
Summary:
The story is about a china toy rabbit, named Edward Tulane, who for the first time experiences his "first genuine and true emotion" as he sinks into the deep ocean, away from his mistress, eleven year old Abilene, who loved and cared for him very much. The rabbit was a specially commissioned gift to Abilene on her seventh birthday from her grandmother. When Abilene's family prepares to leave for England, the grandmother, old Pellegrina, tells a bedtime story to Abilene and Edward about a beautiful princess who had no feelings and who cared less and is turned into a warthog by a witch. Edward waits an waits for Abilene to come and rescue him from the bottom of the sea and recalls Pellegrina's story comparing him with the princess. And only on the 297th on the ocean's depths a big storm lifts him from the ocean floor and he is caught into a fisherman's net. So for a time being he lives with the fisherman and his wife in their cozy cottage. But again something terrible happens and this time Edward is thrown into a trash heap where he remains until a hobo and his dog find him and take him with them on their journey. And so goes from hand to hand, ending up being a scarecrow, and belonging to a girl, Sarah Ruth, very ill with pneumonia and his brother, Bryce. Who love him and he reciprocates her love. So, on his long journey, Edward learns the unfairness and unkindness of life, his heart grows and grows and learns that it's not only through the comfort of life that one learns and appreciates life but through life's challenges, too. He learns what love is. And perhaps a quote from the end of the book best completes this summary: "If you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless." At the end Edward finds himself in a doll shop and is purchased by already grown Abilene for her five year old daughter
Reaction and Impressions:
This is a the type of story that you don't want to end and want Edward's journey to continue on and on. The novel has short chapters and simple font and wide spacing between the lines, making it an easy and enjoyable read especially for struggling readers or children who have difficulty reading (such as dyslexia). The story can easily gravitate young readers to find out what happens next. It's a great story of love and affection.
"Somewhere between fairy tale and fable, DiCamillo spins the tale of Edward, transformed by the lives he touches. The reader will be transformed too. Sumptuous gouache illustrations complement the old-fashioned, dramatic narrative. Keep the tissues handy for this one. Ages 7+"_Kirkus Reviews.
"There will be inevitable comparison of Edward Tulane to The Velveteen Rabbit, and Margery Williams's classic story can still charm after 83 years. But as delightful as it is, it can't match the exquisite language, inventive plot twists, and memorable characters of DiCamillo's tale." _ Publishers Weekly
"The tender look at the changes from arrogance to grateful loving is perfectly delineated. Ibatoullines lovely sepia-toned gouache illustrations and beautifully rendered color plates are exquisite. An ever-so-marvelous tale." _ School Library Journal - Allison Gray
"...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 beautiful is 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."_Booklist - Ilene Cooper
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