''The Magician's Elephant'' is the thirteenth book written by American author
Kate DiCamillo. It was released on September 8, 2009, and illustrated by Yoko Tanaka.
Synopsis
Peter Augustus Duchene has many questions, but there is one he wishes most answered: "Is his sister still alive? And if so, how he can find her?" The answer he finds from the fortuneteller in the market square of the city of Baltese is one he has to learn to believe. "An elephant! An elephant will lead him there!"
"Light & Night"
As part of the book's promotion, Candlewick commissioned a song from the indie band
Tally Hall and singer-songwriter
Nellie McKay. The song, called "Light & Night", was included as a
download code with copies of the book purchased at
Walmart
Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...
stores. In 2022,
Needlejuice Records
Needlejuice Records is an independent record label founded in September 2017 and operated by Austin Aeschliman, Jace McLain, and Brandon Brown. The label's first release, issued in 2017, was the album ''Polygondwanaland'' by King Gizzard & the Li ...
rereleased "Light & Night" on a vinyl single backed with "Turn The Lights Off", to accompany their reissue of ''
Good & Evil''.
Characters
* Peter Augustus Duchene is a boy who lost his mother and father. He is being trained to become a soldier by his guardian, Vilna Lutz. He promised his mother he would take care of his sister. He is really smart and caring and also kind. He believes that the elephant will lead him to his sister.
* Vilna Lutz is a soldier who was Peter's father's friend and marched beside him. He is Peter's guardian and tells him that his sister is dead.
* Adele is Peter's younger long-lost six-year-old sister. Her mother dies right after she is born. She grows up not knowing her brother and living at the Orphanage of the Sisters of Perpetual Light, where she dreams about an elephant coming to get her there. In the end, she is reunited with Peter.
* The Magician made the elephant appear from the ceiling, though he claims he only intended lilies. He goes to prison for handicapping Madam LaVaughn with his elephant and looks to a star which is actually Venus. In the end, he is married to a toothless woman and it is revealed his name is Frederick.
* Leo Matienne is a police officer and lives in the apartment below Vilna Lutz's apartment. He lives with his wife, Gloria, and although he is unable to have any children of his own, he ends up adopting Peter and Adele.
* Madam LaVaughn is a woman whose legs are broken by the elephant which is summoned by the magician. She ends up forgiving him.
* Hans Eckman is Madam LaVaughn's manservant. He recalls having a dog that could jump across a river, but cannot remember the name.
* Tomas is a beggar who owns the blind dog, Iddo. He is known for his singing.
* Bartok Wynn used to sculpt gargoyles until he fell off, which made him hunch over. He has a spontaneous tendency to laugh, and he works as the caretaker for the elephant.
Adaptations
Stage adaptation
A stage musical version by
Nancy Harris
Nancy Harris is an Irish playwright and screenwriter. She was given the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature in 2012.
Early life and education
Harris is the daughter of Anne Harris (journalist), Anne and Eoghan Harris. She was educated at Trinity C ...
and Marc Teitler made its debut at the
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and produces around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, St ...
during their winter 2021 season.
Film adaptation
It was reported in 2009 that Fox planned to adapt ''The Magician's Elephant'' into a film to be produced by Julia Pistor. On December 15, 2020,
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...
acquired the rights for an animated feature film adaptation of the book, with Wendy Rogers set to direct it and Julia Pistor set to produce it. On the same day, Netflix also announced
Noah Jupe,
Benedict Wong,
Pixie Davies,
Sian Clifford
Sian Clifford (born 7 April 1982) is an English actress. She is best known for playing Claire, the older sister of the titular character in the BBC comedy-drama series ''Fleabag'' (2016–2019) and also portrayed Martha Crawley in the ITV/Amazo ...
,
Brian Tyree Henry
Brian Tyree Henry (born March 31, 1982) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Alfred "Paper Boi" Miles in the FX comedy-drama series ''Atlanta'' (2016–2022), for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstan ...
,
Mandy Patinkin
Mandel Bruce Patinkin (; born November 30, 1952) is an American actor and singer, known for his work in musical theatre, television and film. He is a critically acclaimed Broadway performer, having received three Tony Award nominations, winning ...
,
Natasia Demetriou
Natasia Charlotte Demetriou is an English comedian, actress, and screenwriter. She is best known for her roles as Nadja in the FX horror comedy series ''What We Do in the Shadows'' (2019–present) and Sophie in the Channel 4 sitcom '' Stath Le ...
,
Dawn French
Dawn Roma French (born 11 October 1957) is a British actress, comedian, presenter and writer. French is known for writing and starring on the BBC comedy sketch show ''French and Saunders'' with her best friend and comedy partner, Jennifer Saunde ...
,
Aasif Mandvi, and
Miranda Richardson
Miranda Jane Richardson (born 3 March 1958) is an English actress. She made her film debut playing Ruth Ellis in '' Dance with a Stranger'' (1985) and went on to receive Academy Award nominations for ''Damage'' (1992) and ''Tom & Viv'' (1994). ...
had joined the cast of the film.
References
External links
*
Candlewick Press entry
{{DEFAULTSORT:Magician's Elephant, The
2009 American novels
2009 children's books
2009 fantasy novels
American children's novels
Candlewick Press books
Children's fantasy novels
American fantasy novels adapted into films
Novels about orphans
Novels about elephants
Novels about magic
Children's books about elephants
Children's novels about animals