christmas and snow and elephants, oh my! // book review

Okay, so I know I said that I wouldn't be posting until the new year, but I changed my mind. (for a very good reason!!) 

Over the past few months, Hannah and I have been trading reviews on our blogs (see here and here) and we decided that finishing off our little series at Christmastime would be perfect! I picked my favourite Christmas story for her to read, and she sent me hers, buuuuttttt....

Life got busy, and the mail was slow, and long story short I'm a little bit late, but here we go. I'm going to review one of Hannah's favourite Christmas reads ~ The Magician's Elephant, by Kate DiCamillo. 

“Have you, in truth, ever seen something so heartbreakingly lovely? What are we to make of a world where stars shine bright in the midst of so much darkness and gloom?” 


What, indeed. That wonderful little quote perfectly sums up the wonderful little book from whence it came. (please notice what I hope was the correct use of the word 'whence.' I'm pretty impressed with myself.) Not to get all dramatic (but I'm about to get dramatic, so prepare yourself) but this book is like one of those bright stars on a cold winter night. It's so tiny and sweet and makes you feel warm inside, even though your fingers are freezing and your nose became a block of ice, like, four hours ago.

I snagged this copy from the children's section of my library near the beginning of December (but I procrastinated on the review, bad me) and sat down to read it as soon as I got home. It's a sweet little story about an orphan named Peter who wants nothing more than to be reunited with his lost little sister. He is told by a fortuneteller that an elephant will bring them together; later that night, one comes crashing through the roof of a nearby theater, summoned hence (wow, 2/2!! today is a good day) by a magician trying desperately to impress his audience. The book traces Peter's journey, gently twining the stories of the town together until you can hardly tell the tales apart. As if it wasn't good enough already, the story is accompanied by pencilled illustrations. (Why don't they illustrate adult books?? Seriously, why?)

This is a light, sweet little story, full of funny little slices of dialogue and warm dinners by the fire. Spoiler alert, but not really: everyone gets a happy ending. Just thinking about reading it makes me smile all over again. It's technically not a Christmas story...but it suits this time of year perfectly.

Also I just need to say that reading books like this one makes me wish I was a mother so I could sit down and re-read them aloud to my kiddies before bed. *sigh* Oh well. Someday.


Have you ever read The Magician's Elephant? If not, it's not too late! Go and grab yourself a copy of this wonderful little book before the Christmas holidays are over! 

(go do it. right now.)

And when you're finished that, maybe you'd like to pop over to the Daisy Tree and see what Hannah thought of my most favourite Christmas book ever! (I won't tell you what it is, you'll have to go over and see for yourself.)

So far I've been having the most magical Christmas break...I hope yours are turning out to be just as wonderful!

xx
Olivia