Many of my favourite children books were discovered as an adult. Trying to encourage the reading habit in a young nephew, I'd browse the children and young adult sections whenever I visited the bookstore. And when I chanced on a promising book, I'd buy it and read it first. I call this delightful task the 'Aunty Vetting'. It was of course a front for the opportunity to read books I'd never known as a child. So through my self-appointed aunty-vetting job, I fell into the worlds weaved by masters like Neil Gaiman, Roald Dahl, Diana Wynne Jones and so many others. This was my version of the multiverse.

One such book I discovered was "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" by Kate DiCamillo (see book cover image above: By https://covers.openlibrary.org/b/id/516446-L.jpg, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58682285). Journeys and quests of all sorts are a continuing fascination to me and I loved the cover illustration as well. Ever heard the proverb "Don't judge a book by its cover"? Err.. I'm afraid that doesn't apply in my literal case. It's my loss but a handsome looking painted illustration simply demands to be picked up and that was how the book ended up in my hands.

It is the story of a toy porcelain rabbit, Edward Tulane. He's dearly loved by his owner, a little girl, but he's so haughty and conceited over his appearance that you know he's due to be taught a lesson. This starts quickly when a freak accident separates him from his owner. So, yes, it's a tale of his journey, a physical one fraught with misadventures and a painful one that takes place inside him as fate deals him one blow after another.

Rarely are you told what Edward is feeling. Instead scene after scene is described with such vivid imagery that you're right there in the story living his emotional roller coaster. Thus, you will come to the bitter sweet end of the story feeling the transformation of Edward inside you too.

There, I hope I haven't revealed too much. Do read the book and have a magical and miraculous journey yourself.

Note: Thank you to those who have written to let me know you enjoy reading my column but daren't take a lesson because there are parts you don't really understand. I assure you we'll always speak at a level which suits you so that we can enjoy a casual conversation. Also, we can go through words and sentences that are difficult so that we learn together. Perhaps, they will be easy then and we'll always have something to talk about. No stress!