A fable for young and old about a lost soul finding redemption, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane concerns a toy rabbit, the titular Edward: made of china, expensive and delicate, and beloved by a young girl, Abilene. Edward, however, doesn’t love her, or think of anyone except himself. Not everyone is going to take to a morality tale about a sentient toy–but for those of us who love The Velveteen Rabbit, or Winnie the Pooh, or the Toy Story movies, or Calvin and Hobbes, this is a valuable addition to the genre. Edward does have his adventures once he loses Abilene, and meets people who love him and treat him kindly, and those who don’t, experiences loss and despair and joy and love, and eventually learns what is important. He’s given advice by an old doll he meets at one point in the story: “If you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless.” And that’s a good lesson for anyone, in childhood or beyond, to hear. 

NOVEL: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

AUTHOR: Kate DiCamillo

YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2006

IMAGE: Book cover, Candlewick Press