TEHRAN- A Persian translation of American author Kate DiCamillo’s book “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” has been published in Tehran.

The book has been translated into Persian by Leila Mohseni. Milkan is the publisher of the book.

Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, the book won the 2006 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award in the Fiction category.

“The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” tells the story of a china rabbit named Edward Tulane, who embarks on a transformative adventure that takes him far from his comfortable life as a beloved toy. Gifted to a young girl named Abilene, Edward initially lives in a world of luxury and adoration.

However, his life takes a turn when he accidentally falls overboard while vacationing on the Queen Mary. Edward spends 297 days at the bottom of the ocean until a storm dislodges him, and a passing fisherman retrieves him from their fishing net. The fisherman takes Edward home to his wife, where he is mistakenly referred to as female and dressed in dresses.

Throughout his journey, Edward is passed between various life-changing characters, including a hobo and his dog, as well as a four-year-old girl suffering from tuberculosis and her brother. These experiences take him far from home and transform him from the self-absorbed rabbit he once was. Eventually, Edward is tragically damaged against a countertop edge, repaired, and then placed for sale in a doll store for several years. Ultimately, he is purchased by Abilene, now grown up and married with a daughter of her own.

The novel explores several themes, including loss and recovery, kindness and compassion, and the journey toward self-discovery. The central theme can be encapsulated by a quote from the book: "If you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless."

It has often been likened to the works of Hans Christian Andersen, particularly "The Steadfast Tin Soldier."

In addition to the 2006 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for children's fiction, the  book also received a Parents' Choice Award for Spring 2006 fiction. It was also a finalist for the Quill Awards in the children's chapter book category.

In 2007, the U.S. National Education Association recognized it as one of "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children" based on an online poll. In 2012, it was ranked number 59 among all-time children's novels in a survey by “School Library Journal”, marking it as one of three books by DiCamillo in the Top 100.

In 2013, Robert Zemeckis was announced as the director and producer for the film adaptation of “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane”, with Jeff Stockwell writing the script.

The Minnesota Opera commissioned an opera adaptation of the story, with music composed by Paola Prestini and a libretto by Mark Campbell. Originally scheduled to premiere in 2020, the production was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but finally premiered in 2022. The production was conducted by Lidiya Yankovskaya, with tenor Jack Swanson performing the title role. A recording of the opera has since been released.

Synchronicity Theater in Atlanta staged a play adaptation by Dwayne Hartford based on the novel in February 2018 and again in September 2023.

SAB/