The Van Gogh Cafe - Cynthia Rylant

Magic things happen at the Van Gogh Cafe in Flowers, Kansas. No one quite knows why, but people think its because the cafe building was once a theater. They figure the walls absorbed enough magic during those years of lights and costumes and opening nights to last forever. Ten-year-old Clara is another reason for the magic. She believes anything might happen--and it always does. Newbery Medalist Rylant breaks new ground in producing this whimsical tale, dextrously weaving extraordinary events into the fabric of ordinary life. As she gently guides her characters toward their magnificent destinies, the strength of her imagination and the depth of her sensitivity will impress even the reluctant reader.-- Publishers Weekly