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What Members Thought
I've read quite a few Kate DiCamillo books lately, but this one wasn't really my favorite. The kids in my book group said it best, describing it as "a good story, but nothing really happens. There was no real action."
That being said, it really was a magical story and could possibly work really well as a quiet read aloud book for families.
I did have some favorite quotes that were interesting to talk about with my book club:
“There is as much magic in making things disappear as there is in making
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That being said, it really was a magical story and could possibly work really well as a quiet read aloud book for families.
I did have some favorite quotes that were interesting to talk about with my book club:
“There is as much magic in making things disappear as there is in making
t ...more
This is an almost book. It is almost a great story, but somehow the elements just didn't together. At times the fairy tale aspect becomes transparent and reveals the glaring morality tale underneath. Details intended to give enough reality to make the story plausible instead raise questions that illuminate its implausibility. The only well developed character is the elephant while all the human characters remain flat.
The entire plot hinges on this idea: "And everyone, each person, had hopes and ...more
My Emalinne loves anything Kate DiCamillo and will read anything she's written. This is a fun read, along the lines of Tale of Despereaux. I wanted the story to go somewhere more, but it's a fun book and good for kids.
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DiCamillo's latest. Her books are so simple and yet they always leave me thinking. This one was no exception.
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Not my favorite. May be hard to sell to the students.
Suspend disbelief or you will not like this book. I started reading it with magic on my mind, and I absolutely loved it. But when I continued it later that evening, I was too much in the real world, and I found I couldn't get back into the story in the same way. Even so, Kate DiCamillo's writing is exquisite and vivid - and SLJ got it right, this book does beg to be read aloud. There's no point trying to describe anything else about the book - just read it.
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A sweet story about a boy who believes that an elephant who was conjured up unexpectedly by a magician has the power to lead him to his long lost sister. Best for grades 4-6 although some third graders with a good vocabulary might enjoy it too.
IMO, religious allegory has no place in children's lit. It's sneaky and I don't think the kids would even understand it on a non-religious level... nor would they find it interesting.
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Sep 24, 2009
Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)
marked it as to-read
Oct 08, 2010
Michelle
marked it as to-read
Jan 16, 2016
Peak
added it
