The Van Gogh Cafe - Hardcover

Rylant, Cynthia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0152008438 ISBN 13: 9780152008437

Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books, 1995

Synopsis

Believing in the magic that always visits the Van Gogh Cafe, which was once a theater, young Clara helps her father to prepare breakfast for their sleepy patrons, six of whom have special experiences, in an anthology of six interconnected stories.

About this title

About the Author

Cynthia Rylant is a Newbery medalist and the author of many acclaimed books for young people. She's well known for her popular characters for early readers, including Mr. Putter & Tabby and Henry & Mudge. She lives in the Pacific Northwest. www.cynthiarylant.com.

 

 

 

Reviews

Miracles are always in the making at the Van Gogh Cafe in Flowers, Kans.: the small restaurant, housed in a renovated theater, has "magic enough to last forever in its walls." Readers will share the wonder of 10-year-old Clara and her father Marc, the cafe's owner, as they witness a series of serendipitous occurrences involving stranded sea gulls, aged film stars, magic muffins, lost pets and mysterious travelers. As effective as Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's charms at curing all manner of ills, the enchanted cafe instills faith and good will in its patrons. Newbery Medalist Rylant (Missing May) breaks new ground in producing this whimsical tale, dextrously weaving extraordinary events into the fabric of ordinary life. As she gently guides her characters toward their magnificent destinies, the strength of her imagination and the depth of her sensitivity will impress even the reluctant reader. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 4^-6. With her usual mix of elegance and down-to-earthness, Rylant offers seven vignettes of life at the Van Gogh Cafe{‚}. Situated off I-70 in Flowers, Kansas, the cafe{‚}(formerly an old movie theater) is run by Marc and his 10-year-old daughter, Clara, who appreciate the magic that comes from the cafe{‚}'s very walls. A possum turns up (upside down, actually) and is responsible for a widower's finding new meaning for his life. An aged film star and the man he loved many years ago are reunited in death at the cafe{‚}. Rylant's works can be deceptively simple on the surface, but there are layers to probe here. Some children may not wish to; even with magic in the walls and Clara hovering about, there's an adult, occasionally indulgent, sensibility that also permeates. But others will enjoy the odd cast of characters and Rylant's ability to turn a phrase, which can be quite magical in its own right. Ilene Cooper

Edition details

• Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0152008438
• ISBN 13: 9780152008437
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 64