About the book
New York Times Bestseller!
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A never-before-published, previously unfinished Mark Twain children’s story is brought to life by Philip and Erin Stead, creators of the Caldecott Medal-winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee.
In a hotel in Paris one evening in 1879, Mark Twain sat with his young daughters, who begged their father for a story. Twain began telling them the tale of Johnny, a poor boy in possession of some magical seeds. Later, Twain would jot down some rough notes about the story, but the tale was left unfinished . . . until now.
Plucked from the Mark Twain archive at the University of California at Berkeley, Twain’s notes now form the foundation of a fairy tale picked up over a century later. With only Twain’s fragmentary script and a story that stops partway as his guide, author Philip Stead has written a tale that imagines what might have been if Twain had fully realized this work.
Johnny, forlorn and alone except for his pet chicken, meets a kind woman who gives him seeds that change his fortune, allowing him to speak with animals and sending him on a quest to rescue a stolen prince. In the face of a bullying tyrant king, Johnny and his animal friends come to understand that generosity, empathy, and quiet courage are gifts more precious in this world than power and gold.
Illuminated by Erin Stead’s graceful, humorous, and achingly poignant artwork, this is a story that reaches through time and brings us a new book from America’s most legendary writer, envisioned by two of today’s most important names in children’s literature.
A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year
\"Will capture the imaginations of readers of all ages\"—USA Today, ★ ★ ★ ★ (out of four stars)
★ \"Samuel Langhorne Clemens himself would be proud.\"—Booklist, starred review
★ \"A cast of eccentric characters, celestially fine writing, and a crusade against pomp that doesn't sacrifice humor.\"—Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ \"Completing a story penned by arguably America's greatest author is no easy feat, but the Caldecott-winning author-illustrator (and husband-wife) team proves more than equal to the task. . . . A pensive and whimsical work that Twain would applaud.\"—Kirkus, starred review
★ \"The combination of Twain’s (often sarcastic) humor and “lessons of life,” a touch of allegory, and Stead’s own storytelling skills result in an awesome piece of fantasy.\"—School Library Journal, starred review
★ \"Beautifully understated and nuanced illustrations by Erin Stead add the finishing flourishes to this remarkable work.\"—Shelf Awareness, starred review
“drawn with a graceful crosshatched intelligence that seems close to the best of Wyeth.”—Adam Gopnik, The New York Ti
Editions of The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780553523232
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780553523225
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780593303825
- EBook
- ISBN 9780553523249
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780525498711
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780525498698
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780525498704
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780525498681
Read an Excerpt
New York Times Bestseller!
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A never-before-published, previously unfinished Mark Twain children’s story is brought to life by Philip and Erin Stead, creators of the Caldecott Medal-winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee.
In a hotel in Paris one evening in 1879, Mark Twain sat with his young daughters, who begged their father for a story. Twain began telling them the tale of Johnny, a poor boy in possession of some magical seeds. Later, Twain would jot down some rough notes about the story, but the tale was left unfinished . . . until now.
Plucked from the Mark Twain archive at the University of California at Berkeley, Twain’s notes now form the foundation of a fairy tale picked up over a century later. With only Twain’s fragmentary script and a story that stops partway as his guide, author Philip Stead has written a tale that imagines what might have been if Twain had fully realized this work.
Johnny, forlorn and alone except for his pet chicken, meets a kind woman who gives him seeds that change his fortune, allowing him to speak with animals and sending him on a quest to rescue a stolen prince. In the face of a bullying tyrant king, Johnny and his animal friends come to understand that generosity, empathy, and quiet courage are gifts more precious in this world than power and gold.
Illuminated by Erin Stead’s graceful, humorous, and achingly poignant artwork, this is a story that reaches through time and brings us a new book from America’s most legendary writer, envisioned by two of today’s most important names in children’s literature.
A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year
\"Will capture the imaginations of readers of all ages\"—USA Today, ★ ★ ★ ★ (out of four stars)
★ \"Samuel Langhorne Clemens himself would be proud.\"—Booklist, starred review
★ \"A cast of eccentric characters, celestially fine writing, and a crusade against pomp that doesn't sacrifice humor.\"—Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ \"Completing a story penned by arguably America's greatest author is no easy feat, but the Caldecott-winning author-illustrator (and husband-wife) team proves more than equal to the task. . . . A pensive and whimsical work that Twain would applaud.\"—Kirkus, starred review
★ \"The combination of Twain’s (often sarcastic) humor and “lessons of life,” a touch of allegory, and Stead’s own storytelling skills result in an awesome piece of fantasy.\"—School Library Journal, starred review
★ \"Beautifully understated and nuanced illustrations by Erin Stead add the finishing flourishes to this remarkable work.\"—Shelf Awareness, starred review
“drawn with a graceful crosshatched intelligence that seems close to the best of Wyeth.”—Adam Gopnik, The New York Ti
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine about?
New York Times Bestseller!
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A never-before-published, previously unfinished Mark Twain children’s story is brought to life by Philip and Erin Stead, creators of the Caldecott Medal-winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee.
In a hotel in Paris one evening in 1879, Mark Twain sat with his young daughters, who begged their father for a story. Twain began telling them the tale of Johnny, a poor boy in possession of some magical seeds. Later, Twain would jot down some rough notes about the story, but the tale was left unfinished . . . until now.
Plucked from the Mark Twain archive at the University of California at Berkeley, Twain’s notes now form the foundation of a fairy tale picked up over a century later. With only Twain’s fragmentary script and a story that stops partway as his guide, author Philip Stead has written a tale that imagines what might have been if Twain had fully realized this work.
Johnny, forlorn and alone except for his pet chicken, meets a kind woman who gives him seeds that change his fortune, allowing him to speak with animals and sending him on a quest to rescue a stolen prince. In the face of a bullying tyrant king, Johnny and his animal friends come to understand that generosity, empathy, and quiet courage are gifts more precious in this world than power and gold.
Illuminated by Erin Stead’s graceful, humorous, and achingly poignant artwork, this is a story that reaches through time and brings us a new book from America’s most legendary writer, envisioned by two of today’s most important names in children’s literature.
A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year
\"Will capture the imaginations of readers of all ages\"—USA Today, ★ ★ ★ ★ (out of four stars)
★ \"Samuel Langhorne Clemens himself would be proud.\"—Booklist, starred review
★ \"A cast of eccentric characters, celestially fine writing, and a crusade against pomp that doesn't sacrifice humor.\"—Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ \"Completing a story penned by arguably America's greatest author is no easy feat, but the Caldecott-winning author-illustrator (and husband-wife) team proves more than equal to the task. . . . A pensive and whimsical work that Twain would applaud.\"—Kirkus, starred review
★ \"The combination of Twain’s (often sarcastic) humor and “lessons of life,” a touch of allegory, and Stead’s own storytelling skills result in an awesome piece of fantasy.\"—School Library Journal, starred review
★ \"Beautifully understated and nuanced illustrations by Erin Stead add the finishing flourishes to this remarkable work.\"—Shelf Awareness, starred review
“drawn with a graceful crosshatched intelligence that seems close to the best of Wyeth.”—Adam Gopnik, The New York Ti
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine?
Children’s, Teenage and Educational > Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories > Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories: Cultural heritage / traditional stories
Where can I read a sample of The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780553523232
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine?
Mark Twain, Philip C. Stead
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780553523232) and hardcover(ISBN 9780553523225) and paperback(ISBN 9780593303825) and ebook(ISBN 9780553523249) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780525498711) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780525498698) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780525498704) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780525498681)
Where can I buy The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine from below
Where can I buy The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine?