The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine
Author(s): Mark Twain; Phillip Stead; Erin Stead (ILT)
A never-before-published, previously unfinished Mark Twain children's story is brought to life by Caldecott Medal winners Philip Stead and Erin Stead. a In a hotel in Paris one evening in 1879, Mark Twain sat with his young daughters, who begged their father for a story. After the girls chose a picture from a magazine to get started, Twain began telling them the tale of Johnny, a poor boy in possession of some magical seeds. Later, Twain would jot down some rough notes about the story, but the tale was left unfinished . . . until now. a Plucked from the Mark Twain archive at the University of California at Berkeley, Twain's notes now form the foundation of a fairy tale picked up over a century later. With only Twain's fragmentary script and a story that stops partway as his guide, author Philip Stead has written a tale that imagines what might have been if Twain had fully realized this work- a Johnny, forlorn and alone except for his pet chicken, meets a kind woman who gives him seeds that change his fortune, allowing him to speak with animals and sending him on a quest to rescue a stolen prince. In the face of a bullying tyrant king, Johnny and his animal friends come to understand thatagenerosity, empathy, and quiet courage are gifts more precious in this world than power and gold. a Illuminated by Erin Stead's graceful, humorous, and achingly poignant artwork, this is a story that reaches through time and brings us a new book from America's most legendary writer, envisioned by two of today's most important names in children's literature.
Product Information
â "Completing a story penned by arguably America's greatest author is no easy feat, but the Caldecott-winning author-illustrator (and husband-wife) team proves more than equal to the task. . . . A pensive and whimsical work that Twain would applaud."--Kirkus, starred review â "a cast of eccentric characters, celestially fine writing, and a crusade against pomp that doesn't sacrifice humor."--Publishers Weekly, starred review â "Samuel Langhorne Clemens himself would be proud."--Booklist, starred reviewâ "The combination of Twain's (often sarcastic) humor and "lessons of life," a touch of allegory, and Stead's own storytelling skills result in an awesome piece of fantasy."--School Library Journal, starred review"bound to become a reading staple for all ages."--RealSimple.com
General Fields
- :
- : Random House Children's Books
- : Red Fox
- : 1.95
- : 01 August 2017
- : United States
- : books
Special Fields
- : Mark Twain; Phillip Stead; Erin Stead (ILT)
- : Mark Twain; Phillip Stead; Erin Stead (ILT)
- : Hardcover
- : 1217
- : 1217
- : English
- : FIC
- : Children's - Grade 4-6, Age 9-11
- : 2017003082
- : 160