I just read Kate DiCamillo’s The Magician’s Elephant last night.  It’s a quick read–not a flippant, insignificant read, by the way–but a gorgeously written fable or fairy tale, complete with both ugly truth and unbelievable hope and redemption.  It’s about believing in the impossible, making the impossible possible.  Doesn’t that sound like something every human needs?

Book jacket copy: “In a highly awaited new novel, Kate DiCamillo conjures a haunting fable about trusting the unexpected — and making the extraordinary come true.  What if?  Why not?  Could it be?  When a fortuneteller’s tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live?  And if so, how can he find her?  The fortuneteller’s mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it’s true.  With atmospheric illustrations by fine artist Yoko Tanaka, here is a dreamlike and captivating tale that could only be narrated by Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo.  In this timeless fable, she evokes the largest of themes — hope and belonging, desire and compassion — with the lightness of a magician’s touch.”

Read it, read it!

In the meantime, here are a couple of sites to whet your appetite.

Kate talks about her novel here.

Candlewick Press’s lovely site is here (which reminds me to tell you–psst, psst–about the wonderful illustrations by Yoko Tanaka all through the book!)  Once you’ve seen this site, you’ll understand why 20th Century Fox is making the movie.

Onto more important things.

A year ago today, we met our daughter for the first time, so we are celebrating “Meet You” day.

How can it be that she’s only been in our lives a year?  How can it be that she’s so exuberantly happy and confident…and speaking such astute phrases in English?  How is it even possible?

Our hearts are full, and we want to thank all of you out there who’ve had a part in welcoming her home.

Thank you, thank you!

[Post image: Partial of The Magician’s Elephant cover]