Overview
Edward the Crazy Man is a story of triumph over misunderstanding. It is a touching and funny, humane, and dynamic tale of one boy's will to help one man and to change perceptions about homelessness and schizophrenia.When Charlie was a boy, he would encounter a man on the streets that everyone called the Crazy Man. But Charlie saw something in him that others did not. Charlie saw the man's bright blue eyes that glittered like stars and he loved the fantastical costumes that the man concocted from things people threw away.
One night Charlie went through his own garage and carefully chose things that he thought the Crazy Man might like. Charlie left them out where the man would find them. The next day at the crosswalk the class bully made fun of the Crazy Man. Charlie and the bully began to argue, and Charlie was punched in the stomach. As Charlie began to fall, someone snatched him from the path of a speeding car. Charlie saw the Crazy Man, in a fabulous outfit made from all the treasures that Charlie had left, disappear quickly down the street. The Crazy Man had saved Charlie's life. But after that day Charlie did not see the Crazy Man around his neighborhood again.
Charlie grows up and becomes a costume designer. He creates marvelous outfits for famous people to wear. Walking home one night, Charlie recognizes the Crazy Man, homeless on the street. Wanting to do something for him, Charlie leaves a card with the message, "I would like to help you — trust me."
Weeks later Charlie gets his chance to help. The Crazy Man is taken to the hospital, where they discover that he has an illness that affects his brain. The police find Charlie's card and contact him.Remembering the wonderful costumes the Crazy Man used to make, Charlie offers "Edward" — for that is his real name — a job at the costume factory.
When Edward begins to work, most people do not understand him because he talks in loud voices to him-self and is very private. After the famous rock star Krackerjack's luggage is lost at the airport, Edward is just the man to design the new flamboyant, extravagant costume — but time is tight. Soon everyone has pitched in and the costume is ready, just in time for the concert that night.
Author Biography: Marie Day is the author and illustrator of two books, Dragon in the Rocks and Quennu and the Cave Bear. For many years she was an award-winning costume and stage designer for operas and plays all over North America, including the Stratford Festival.
Synopsis
A picture book that tells the story of triumph over misunderstanding. It is a touching and funny, humane, and dynamic tale of one boy's will to help one man and to change perceptions about homelessness and schizophrenia. Illustrated throughout in color.
Zoe Johnstone Guha
Marie Day writes with great passion and concern for those who have schizophrenia. . .
Editorials
Canadian Materials
This book is about more than homelessness and mental illness; it is also about the difference a friend can make.— Catherine Hoyt
Children's Literature
While on the way to school, Charlie sees a very strange looking man. He is wearing an outlandish costume made of things he has found. Charlie often spots the man, who seems to sport a new and more outlandish costume each time. One day Charlie pulls together a lot of "junk" and leaves it out for the man; and Charlie is astonished at what he can do. As time passes, Charlie becomes a famous costume designer but he always remembers the strange man and how he saved his life when a bully pushed him into oncoming traffic. The big payback comes when Charlie spies the man again, homeless on the street. It turns out that the man is ill-he suffers from schizophrenia. After time in a hospital, Charles hires the man, but he seems like he will not really be able to create costumes. Since this a story for kids, it has a happy ending. Edward saves the day when he creates a fabulous costume for a big rock star and earns himself a starring role in Charlie's company. It is fictitious, not all homeless people can or want to be helped and there are too few like Charlie in this world who care enough to make a difference. It may be an oversimplification for solving so critical a problem, but the story is heartwarming and Marie Day's costumes are something else. The cartoon style uses color to place emphasis and black-and-white line drawings for backgrounds. They add humor to what could be a very serious story. 2002, Annick, Ages 7 up.— Marilyn Courtot
Resource Links
Marie Day writes with great passion and concern for those who have schizophrenia.— Zoë Johnstone Guha