Title: The Magician's Elephant
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator/Artist: Yoko Tanaka
Genre: Children’s Magical Realism / Modern Fable / Whimsical Literary Fantasy
Edition: True First Edition, First Printing (2009)
Publisher: Candlewick Press, Somerville, Massachusetts
The Magician's Elephant follows Peter Augustus Duchene, a ten-year-old orphan being raised by a strict, battle-hardened old soldier. When a mysterious fortuneteller's tent suddenly appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, Peter spends his single piece of currency to ask the burning questions consuming his heart: Does his sister still live, and if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller's cryptic reply—that an elephant will lead him there—sets off an impossible, wondrous chain of events that shakes the entire city. Soon after, a reckless magician accidentally summons a real, live elephant right through the ceiling of the opera house, setting Peter on the path to rewriting his destiny.
A highlight for readers and collectors is the hauntingly beautiful, atmospheric artwork by illustrator Yoko Tanaka. Tanaka's soft, monochromatic charcoal-and-acrylic paintings evoke a dreamlike setting that feels like a stage play, casting a warm, comforting light over a dark, wintry landscape. It is an excellent read-aloud volume for families or acquisition for children's book collectors.
Kate DiCamillo (1964 – Present): One of the most beloved American children's authors of the modern era, celebrated for her deeply empathetic storytelling and timeless narrative voice. DiCamillo has achieved the rare distinction of winning two prestigious Newbery Medals (for The Tale of Despereaux and Flora & Ulysses), alongside a Newbery Honor for her breakthrough debut, Because of Winn-Dixie, and the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor for her delightful Mercy Watson books. She also served as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. Known for her rare ability to treat young readers with emotional respect, DiCamillo weaves complex themes of grief, loneliness, and separation with an underlying thread of joy and redemption.
Yoko Tanaka: A Japanese-born fine artist and children's book illustrator renowned for her soft, moody, and deeply atmospheric visual style. Tanaka moved to the United States to study, graduating with a BFA in Illustration from the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. Her unique aesthetic relies on blended tonal values, using subtle shadows and delicate lighting to create an air of mystery and historical timelessness. Tanaka's evocative illustrations have graced numerous titles, including The Magician's Elephant, The Dream of the Thylacine, and The Princess and the Page. Her artwork has been widely exhibited in galleries across Los Angeles and Tokyo and honored by the Society of Illustrators.
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Condition: Fine/Very Good. Dust jacket: Small closed tear along the back edge accompanied by a small area of wrinkling; minor edge wear.
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