A Sad Smile, but a Smile Just the Same

I remember when I was a little girl, our house caught on fi--- on no, wait.  That was Peg, not me.   But I do remember, when I was a little girl and I was in a snit about something, my father would often try to make me laugh.  I would try and try not to give in, but he was a very, very funny man.  And he would often announce, "It was a sad smile, but a smile just the same..." and what would do it.  A full blown smile, just as he narrated.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane made me smile many sad smiles, but smiles, indeed, just the same.
What a glorious book.  Years ago I read Because of Winn-Dixie and I remember feeling the same way after having read it and I can't, for the life of me, think why it has take me so long to read another DiCamillo.   Minnesota brings out the genius in everyone, doesn't it?
Edward is a handsome bunny, made of the finest china and he loves himself, surely, but doesn't know how to love others.  A turn of events, a curse perhaps, sends him off on the journey of his life, one that I will remember for a very, very, very long time.  Beautiful.