This enchanting book takes the reader on a journey of a most prized china rabbit, Edward Tulane. Edward is a pampered rabbit, with his reserved spot at the dining room table, and his handmade silk clothes. He even sports his own gold pocket watch. All is fine, except for the boredom he feels when his owner loves and talks to him. When he finds himself at the bottom of the ocean, Edward's cold heart begins to melt, just a little bit, and that's when his true journey begins.
Kate DiCamillo is a well-known author and has published several award winning books. Most noteworthy are The Tale of Despereaux, Because of Winn-Dixie, and The Tiger Rising. She skillfully weaves the stories of the characters in this novel, and through her descriptive prose takes the reader right along with Edward to the bottom of the ocean, all the way to a poor child's home in Tennessee. Although there are only a handful of illustrations in this book, they are not to be missed. Bagram Ibatoulline perfectly foreshadows the chapter's content with a chapter opening, albeit small, illustration. Ibatoulline masterfully uses tone and shadows to portray action and emotion. The eyes of Edward Tulane alone are worth studying, as they come to life throughout his journey. A special note must be made about the full page illustration in between page 112 and 113. Edward Tulane has been tied to a post to be a scarecrow in the garden, and the post resembles a cross, and Edward Tulane resembles Christ during the crucifixion. This illustration is powerful, and coincides with a dark time in the rabbit's life. And although there are only a handful of full page illustrations in the book, the illustrator chooses the perfect moments to bring to life for the reader.
I read this book in one session, and the pages literally flew through my fingers. I kept wanting Edward Tulane to stand up and walk. He could think and he could feel, but he couldn't do anything else. He couldn't seek revenge on the villains in his life, and he couldn't tell his new friends where his old home was. I was struck by the sadness in his eyes throughout the book, and how he went from a well-polished rabbit to a broken rabbit with tattered clothes. I felt that this book was strongly telling the reader that pretty and expensive is not always best, and sometimes you have to be broken in order to truly experience love and life. This is a definite must read for 4th graders and up!
Key Words: unraveled, ragged, regretted, bewitched, oblivion, lurched
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