DiCamillo, Kate: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.

DiCamillo, Kate THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE. ISBN 10 0-7636-2589-2. Il. by Bagram Ibatoulline. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2006. 198 pp. $18.99. Kate DiCamillo is the author of Because of Winn-Dixie and the Newbery Medal-winning The Tale of Desperaux. In this, her latest story, she relates the adventures of Edward, an elegantly dressed, three-foot-tall, china rabbit. The story begins as this proud and selfish rabbit is about to go on a voyage aboard the Queen Mary with his loving owner, a young girl named Abilene. On the voyage, Edward accidentally goes overboard and ends up lying on the bottom of the ocean. He eventually washes ashore and is found, loved, and lost by a series of interesting characters, including a fisherman and his wife, a hobo, and a dying young girl. Edward's understanding of what it means to be loved and to love develops more fully with each of these encounters, until he is eventually reunited years later with Abilene and her own young daughter. This exciting and beautifully told story, reminiscent of The Velveteen Rabbit, is certain to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. The most challenging lesson Edward learns is that even though he has lost love several times, it is important to find the courage to love again. Ages 9-12.--MAH