The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine

A never-before-published, previously unfinished Mark Twain children’s story is brought to life by Caldecott Medal winners Philip Stead and Erin Stead. 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 with magical seeds, which he later jotted down in rough notes but left unfinished. Plucked from the Mark Twain archive at the University of California at Berkeley, these notes now form the foundation of a fairy tale completed over a century later by Philip Stead. The story follows Johnny, who is given seeds by a kind woman that change his fortune, allowing him to speak with animals and embark on a quest to rescue a stolen prince. Throughout his adventure, Johnny and his animal friends learn that generosity, empathy, and quiet courage are more valuable than power and gold. The story, enhanced by Erin Stead's graceful and poignant artwork, bridges time to deliver a new book from America's legendary writer, envisioned by prominent figures in children's literature today.