The Magician's Elephant

Peter is eking out a miserable existence. He is living with an impoverished and decrepit retired soldier, who treats him like the lowest private in the battalion. Peter’s parents are dead. There was a baby sister, but the old soldier told him that she also died and he is fully alone in this world. One fateful day the news is revealed by a fortune teller that his sister is still alive and he can find her if he follows the elephant. Elephant? There have never been any elephants in the small and dreary town of Baltese. Meanwhile, a traveling magician, while trying to make flowers appear out of thin air to present to a noblewoman, instead manifests an elephant, who falls out of the ceiling and crushes the noblewoman’s legs. Now the magician finds himself in jail, the noblewoman is crippled and bitter, and the elephant is confused and wants to go home. While across town, an orphaned resident of a children’s home is visited by an elephant in her dreams. What does it all mean? As magical snow begins to fall Peter and his policeman friend start a series of events that unite all of the characters in the story and set the entire muddle right again and as it should be.

Ah, Kate DiCamillo. For my money she is clearly the best living children’s author. All of her books are carefully worded, precisely plotted and pure magic. Somehow I missed this one and picked it up at the insistence of a young patron whose teacher used it as a read aloud. The Magician’s Elephant is more Norendy and less Winn Dixie. Set in an old fashioned fairytale world where anything can happen, yet people live simply, the stage is set for something miraculous, which comes in the shape of an elephant. This elephant sets off the chain of events that eventually resets the misery of everyone’s lives and helps them to realize their dreams. Written carefully and lyrically, the words are beautiful and poetic with a clear and consistent voice even though the POV changes. Though the volume is slim, younger kids may be confused by the language and the story may go over their heads. It is best served as a read aloud for families and classrooms for older elementary. Whimsical black and white full-page illustrations by Yoko Tanaka add to the experience. The story demonstrates that anything is possible, but you must believe and asks the question “What if?”. You will never realize your dreams if you don’t wonder and believe it could happen. I was surprised that it didn’t win the Newbery medal, but the winner that year was When You Reach Me, which deservedly won. This title should have been at least awarded a honor. A modern fable to be shared and savored, especially during the darkest days of winter.