"The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" is an unquestionable classic. I haven't felt this level of satisfaction from a children's book in so long. This is definitely an essential book to read to my students and maybe my own children, if I ever have any. The main character, Edward, is a toy rabbit with a privileged life. He belongs to a girl named Abilene, who loves him very much. She never fails to remind him that she loves him, but Edward does not love her in return. He only thinks of himself. His pride is easily damaged by any little upset. Abilene's grandmother, who gave Edward to Abilene as a gift, tells her a bedtime story one night about a princess who was turned into a warthog as punishment for being a cold-hearted person. Edward listens but does not understand the message of the story.
Edward has to go on a journey into the depths of despair in order to understand the story. On this journey Edward suffers greatly. He learns a lot about the joys and cruelty of the real world, but he also brings comfort to others and makes a difference in many people's lives. Each time he is torn from someone who loves him he learns to love a little bit more. At the end of his journey, he is humbled after numerous heartbreaks and years of loneliness. Finally, he has a chance to make up for his selfishness and love someone from his past who, after years and years, never forgot about him and never stopped loving him.
