The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

Can we read? No. 98: A book-to-movie adaptation coming to Netflix on March 17

Next week, on March 17, Netflix will release their animated feature film The Magician’s Elephant, directed by Wendy Rogers and based on the book from two-time Newbery Award-winning author Kate DiCamillo.

If you’ve read any of DiCamillo’s 25+ books, you’ll understand why they’ve sold 40 million copies worldwide and why a growing handful of them have been made into films — her work is full of heart; her stories showcase human error, courage, hope, and lovability with messages of shared humanity and connectedness that resonate with nearly everyone. If you haven’t, now is the perfect time to get your hands on some of her titles, ranging from delightful picture and early chapter books to novels perfect for reading aloud as a family or sharing with independent readers looking for their own next great middle-grade read.

The Magician’s Elephant is one of the latter. It’s a beautiful tale about orphan Peter Augustus Duchene, whose grit, determination, and belief that anything is possible sets him off on an almost-dreamlike, seemingly-impossible quest to find his long-lost sister. When he discovers a magician who summons a mysterious elephant from the sky (I suppose all “elephants from the sky” are mysterious), it sets off a sequence of events in his sleepy little town that change the lives of everyone involved.

“But that’s impossible,” said Peter.

“Magic is always impossible, “ said the magician. “It begins with the impossible and ends with the impossible and is impossible in between. That is why it is magic.”

(The Magician’s Elephant, page 154)

When Netflix asked if I’d like to preview the movie — and more importantly, to me at least, interview Kate DiCamillo — I said yes. (I mean, Kate DiCamillo. Newsletter break, schmooze-letter break: you do not say no.)

That interview is what you’'ll find below. And don’t worry, there are no spoilers here — I want to preserve your experience of both this marvelous book and the joyful reimagining of it as a film.

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Still image from the The Magician’s Elephant on Netflix

The Magician’s Elephant was published in 2009, and the messages of both the book and the movie – namely that the power of hope and faith can help us overcome obstacles, however large – are more timely than ever. What inspired the idea for this book?

I was in the lobby of a hotel in New York City, waiting to meet a friend, and I had this sudden vision of a magician who wanted, for once in his life, to perform real magic. I reached into my purse to get my notebook to write things down and I saw a gift I was going to give to a friend — a notebook with an elephant on it. And I thought: “Oh, that’s what the magician is going to do.  He's going to conjure an elephant.” So the story started as the impossible becoming possible, and it kept me good company in a dark time. 

Which of the characters in The Magician’s Elephant do you relate to the most and why?

I love Adele. When she dreams of the elephant. And I love Peter’s refusal to give up. And I love the elephant's heart, her homesickness. Oh, I relate to all of them.

Four of your other books – The Tiger Rising, Because of Winn-Dixie, Flora and Ulysses, and The Tale of Despereaux – have been made into movies. What’s that like? How much input do you get, as an author?

It’s kind of unbelievable when you list them all out like that. I mean, it’s overwhelming. Each time, it’s different — sometimes I get to weigh in, or work on the screenplay or go to the set — but each time, it’s a wonder.

Still image from The Magician’s Elephant on Netflix

I am one of those people who believes that the book is always – or almost always – better than the movie, but that doesn’t mean books made into movies can’t be great on their own. What do you think of the film? Without spoilers, what are some significant ways The Magician’s Elephant changed between the page and the screen?

I love the film. It’s luminous. Moving. Funny. Magical. There are differences, yes —there always are — but the addition of a whimsical king and three challenges for Peter deepens the plot, I think.

Can we expect to see any more Kate DiCamillo books come to life in this way? (I would love to see an episodic show featuring all the characters from your Mercy Watson and Tales From Deckawoo Drive series, and I’d be first in line to see The Beatryce Prophecy on the big screen, in case anyone wants to take my suggestions and run with them 😊)

Ooooh, I so want to see that Deckawoo Drive show!! Yes, please. And Beatryce becoming a film looks like a very real possibility with the same team that made Flora and Ulysses.

What’s next for you? Are you working on anything new you can tell us about?

I’ve been working on fairy tales. The first of the fairy tale novellas will come out this fall. Also, this fall will be the 20th anniversary edition of The Tale of Despereaux, with a new story from me and new art from illustrator Tim Ering.  

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A big thank you to DiCamillo for granting me this interview and to Netflix for giving me the opportunity. (My newsletter life is weird these days, but in the very best way.)

If you like book-to-movie adaptations, Netflix has quite a few of them. (Of course I am a purist and don’t watch book-to-movie adaptations without reading the book first, and that goes for my kiddos too, but once that’s done, I find it’s great fun to compare-and-contrast the two — and it’s a particularly awesome way to further literacy-rich activities in your home. More on this in a couple of weeks.)

Happy reading and happy watching!
Sarah