Know Before You Go

This season’s Junior Players production, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, adapted by Dwayne Hartford from the book by Kate DiCamillo and directed by Erin McNally, begins next week, running from Mar. 22 through Mar. 30 in the Nicholas Studio. Tickets are on sale now.

The Junior Players, students in grades 5 through 8 who are advanced students in SCR’s Youth Conservatory, are performing the adaptation of one of the most popular and decorated children’s books in any library. DiCamillo’s 2006 novel, which was illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, won 45 state and national awards, including the 2006 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for children’s fiction, a Parents’ Choice Award for Spring 2006 fiction, Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of the Year and Child Magazine’s Best Children’s Book of the Year, among many others.

In 2007, the National Education Association named The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane one of “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children.” In 2012, School Library Journal ranked it 59th among children’s novels of all time. It was the third of DiCamillo’s three books to make the top 100 list.

“This achingly beautiful story shows a true master of writing at her very best,” wrote School Library Journal in its review.

DiCamillo is one of seven authors to win two Newbery Medals, the most prestigious award in children’s literature, winning the award for The Tale of Despereaux and Flora & Ulysses. Her books have sold more than 22 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 41 languages.

Edward Tulane is a dapper china rabbit—a gift for 10-year-old Abilene, who loves him almost as much as he loves himself. When Edward gets lost at sea, a series of adventures takes him far from home and far from the vain and selfish rabbit he once was, as he discovers the transformative power of love.