The magician's elephant by Kate DiCamillo

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Candlewick Press, ISBN 978 7636 4410 9
(Age 10-12) Highly recommended.When ten year old Peter Augustus Duchene is told by the fortune teller in the market place that the sister he presumed dead is alive he is confused and distressed for his guardian Vilna Lutz has always told him the opposite. Then when the fortune teller also prophesises that he should follow the elephant, Peter is not only bewildered but determined to find the truth.
This fantasy unfolds as in a dream with the magician conjuring an elephant when intending only a bouquet of flowers. Beautifully told with muted black and white acrylic illustrations, the font, and paper add to the surreal feeling pervading the novel.
From the acclaimed author of Because of Winn Dixie and The tale of Desperaux, and similar to Philippa Pearce's A Finder's Magic it's a book to read aloud and savour the shared experience.
Sue Nosworthy

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