The Magician's Elephant, by Kate DiCamilloJuvenile, 2009
Peter is an orphan being raised by a soldier, who one day sends him for some bread (the moldier the better - it'll make a man out of you) and some fish (as small as possible - as a soldier you don't eat much). Instead of getting the food, however, he decides to spend the one coin on the fortune-teller, who will answer one question. And so he finds out that his sister is alive, and if he wants to find her, he must follow the elephant.
At the same time, a magician who fully intends to make only a bouquet of lilies appear, instead makes an elephant drop through the ceiling...
A fun idea, and a short book, I started it completely thrilled with the characters and the plot idea. However, things got a little weird for me as the coincidences and the ending just....well, a bit off. I think, perhaps, this is one of those books children will love, but when they get older, scratch their head and go, 'huh'. So, for children, two thumbs up, way to go Kate. But for me, I'm afraid I'm grading it a B-.
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