The Magician's Elephant: Kate DiCamillo

Many of us have heard of the book or movie "Because of Winn Dixie", and some of us have even fallen in love with a little French mouse, Despereaux (including myself) in his courageous journey to save the Princess Pea; but have any of you heard of Kate DiCamillo's newest novel? It truly is a treasure that belongs on the bookshelf of everyone who has a child or is still a child at heart!

Here's a sample of the book. This dog is not a main character, but my heart melted when reading this! Made me think of my own dog :)

"The Magician's Elephant"

The dog's name was Iddo.

And there was a time when he had worked carrying messages and letters and plans across battlefields, transferring information from one officer of Her Majesty's army to another.

And then one day, on a battlefield near Modegnel, as the dog weaved his way through the horses and soldiers and tents, he was caught by the blast from a cannon and was thrown high into the air and landed on his head in such a way that he was instantly, permanently blinded.

His one thought as he descended into darkness was, But who will deliver the messages?

Now when he slept, Iddo was forever running, carrying a letter, a map, battle-plans, some piece of paper that would win the war, if only he could arrive in time.

The dog longed with the whole of his being to perform again the task that he had been born and bred to do.

Iddo wanted to deliver, just once more, a message of great importance...