The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo the story is about a china rabbit that belongs to a ten-year-old girl. One day, the girl loses her rabbit when it falls overboard during vacation. The china rabbit spent many days on the ocean floor until a storm finally frees him. The rabbit soon begins his journey back to his owner but only after a sequence of different events. The story would be great to read to students in 3rd and 4th grade. As a read the story to my class, I would use any opportunity I get to have the students discuss and debate on what will happen next in the story. There are also many opportunities for students to write essays. In the story, Edward the chine rabbit is repeatedly lost by people who love him. I could ask my students to write about a time they lost something important to them and how it made them feel. 

 

Lexile: 700L 

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is one of my all time favorite books. I read this book countless times as a child and was so intrigued by the adventurous nature of the book, the different places Edward went, the different Characters that he met, and how his own personality changed throughout the text. I would use sequencing activities and character charts for this book. I would also have the students write about a special toy that they have in their reading journals. I would use this book in 3rd - 5th grade. The guided reading level is Q and the Lexile level is 700L.

I'll start this review by saying I don't like Kate DiCamillo that much as an author. However, this is one of her best books in my opinion. I've found all her other books either over-hyped or too derivative. They are also overwhelmingly populated by white characters, and Edward Tulane is no exception.

 

I found Edward's story compelling as I was reading it (I finished the book in two sittings). The ending is rushed. The penultimate person Edward meets on his journey needed more page space which would have given the ending a better emotional impact.

 

Edward Tulane is a kept rabbit. His owner dresses him, sets him up for his day and loves him unconditionally. But he only thinks about himself. He feels no affection for anyone other than himself. Soon after they set off on a long journey, Edward is separated from his owner and sets off on a journey of self discovery as he moves through the different lives of those who find him.

Edward is learning the art of less of self and thinking of others. Even though he is a child's toy, his many years of traveling through the many phases of his new owners lives, he learns to appreciate the story that Pellegrina told his first owner many years ago.

Join Edward on this lovable journey!!

I suggest this book for kids ages 8-12.

Edward’s journey through this story is incredible. He’s given so much personality and I think anyone could identify with the ways he loved and lost. It was hard enough for him to learn to love, but even worse learning to love again and again, overcoming loss and disappointment.

I loved all the characters Edward came to face with, from the fisherman and his wife to the hobo and his dog, but especially the little girls. And the message of this story was so clear and wonderful.

At the beginning I expected this to be a three-star book, but the writing and characters really set it apart from others. And I absolutely adored the ending.

Overall, this was a quick read for me, but it was beautiful. It was filled with love and written truthfully, and I like the fact that readers can relate to Edward – which is important, even though he is a toy rabbit.