NEWSFLASH: KATE DICAMILLLO

This just in from Publishers Weekly:

Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo’s eagerly awaited new novel, The Magician’s Elephant (Candlewick, Sept.), illustrated by Yoko Tanaka, continues to move forward. This week Candlewick revealed the cover art and announced a hefty first printing of 500,000 copies for the 208-page fable, in which a boy who learns from a fortuneteller that not only is his sister alive but an elephant will take him to her.

As part of the promotion, says Laura Rivas, manager of marketing, publicity and events at Candlewick, the company created a widget of the first chapter of The Magician’s Elephant, which booksellers can place on their Web sites.....

To date, five co-editions have been lined up for an international laydown date of September 8.

And my reaction

1. I can't wait. Never could.


2. I love the cover.


3. I've got to get one of those widgets!


4. 'Laydown date of September 8'? Not sure what that means - but if that's the day I can get my hands on a copy I'll lay down in front of any bookstore!