The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

• Genre: Fiction; middle grade adventure
• Originally Published: 2006
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 700L; grades 2-5
• Structure/Length: 27 chapters; approx. 240 pages; approx. 1 hours, 55 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Edward Tulane is a china rabbit that lives with a girl named Abilene, who takes very good care of him. When he is lost, Edward goes on an incredible journey from the ocean to a fisherman’s net to a fireside camp and back, learning to love and lose and love again in a world that can be miserable and cruel.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Derogatory reference to unhoused individuals

Kate DiCamillo, Author

• Bio: Born in 1964; American children’s fiction author of over 25 novels; born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; grew up in Clermont, Florida; studied English at the University of Florida at Gainesville; popularity of first book Because of Winn-Dixie launched her career; a Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Emerita (2014); five books have been adapted into feature films
• Other Works: Because of Winn-Dixie (2000); The Tale of Despereaux (2003); Flora & Ulysses (2013); The Beatryce Prophecy (2021)
• Awards: Horn Book Award (2006); Parents’ Choice Award (2006); Quill Awards finalist (2006)    

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• The Connection Between Love and Loss
• Having a Voice Through the Power of Story
• Love as the Meaning of Life

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the literary and social contexts regarding journeys that incite Edward’s conflict.
• Study paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Connection Between Love and Loss, Having a Voice Through the Power of Story, and Love as the Meaning of Life.
• Describe and collect memorabilia that are symbolic of Edward’s journey based on textual details.
• Analyze and evaluate the plot and character details to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding stars, Edward’s mobility, and other topics.