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The Magician's Elephant

(2009, Fiction - Fantasy, Written by Kate DiCamillo, Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0

  • Common Sense says

    Magical, inspirational story perfect for reading aloud.

Themes in this book include:   family relationships, loss
updated 10.01.09

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.

  • Messages:

    Honesty and forgiveness and how they can set you free are two major themes. Also, loneliness and the importance of companionship for the magician and family for Peter.

  • Role models:

    Though Peter starts out the book using money meant for food to pay a fortuneteller, he's otherwise a wonderful influence on those around him, and wants to honor both his mother's dying wish and to protect the elephant. A minor character makes a major impact with his story about how almost falling to his death made him decide that "life is funny" and laugh a lot more.

  • Illustrations:

    Tanka's illustrations are dark and shadowy but warm and atmospheric. The personalities of DiCamillo's odd assortment of characters come through.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    At the pivotal event a woman's legs are crushed by the elephant and she suffers pain and sleeplessness every night afterward. Many mentions that Peter's mother died in childbirth and his father in the war. Vilna Lutz has a wooden foot and suffers fevers and madness after years of military service. A short description of how an army dog became blind from a nearby explosion. Mention of how a stonemason suffered a major fall off a cathedral and barely lived.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Magician's Elephant

Parents need to know that though this story can feel somewhat dark with mentions of death in childbirth, legs crushed, and a near-fatal fall, there are wonderful messages to discuss with kids about how honesty and forgiveness can set you free. This is definitely one of those tales that's worth reading aloud and sharing.

 

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the elephant. What does he represent to each character? Why did he end up in a ballroom for show?
  • Families can also talk about honesty. Peter doubts Vilna Lutz, while Madam LaVaughn doubts the magician. How do they confront them? Why was it important for these characters to both confront them and forgive? Can you think of a time this has happened in your own life?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    cammy48
    I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    great, but a little bit of blood

    Well let's face it this books rocks!! But there are 1 or 2 mentions of Peter's father bleeding to death and like "The tale of Desperaux" and "Because of Winn-Dixie" (I could not help crying on that one) it can be kind of sad. But Again the book rocks!!

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  2. Adult Reviewer
    Eezreviews
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    A sweet tale that parents will love

    For kids who love to dream or just ask "what if" this sweet tale about a boy searching for his lost sister who truly believes he will find her again. While there are both a fortuneteller and a magician in this story, the focus isn't so much on magic and psychic powers as it is on the power of love and change and people being willing to help others.

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  3. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    dragonsrule
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models
    • Great illustrations

    Another good one by Kate DiCamillo!

    I really liked this story! I think it is good for kids 8+. Sensitive readers might be upset at some points in the story, for, as in her other book (The Tale of Desperaux), there is some sadness. I think that SOME parents (the ones with empathetic children) might want to read this beforehand.

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  4. Parent Reviewer
    gabajoran
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    This is a wonderful book. The story is not a totally happy one but in the end everyone in the book either gets what they most need or comes to terms with life as it is. A perfect book to read with children or to them. I'm amazed at how different all of DiCamillo's books are. My family and I have enjoyed them all.

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