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Mysterious Traveler
This tale begins with a disgruntled camel, desperately trying to protect a little baby from a violent desert storm whipping up all around him. He is rescued by Issa - the desert guide - who takes the child in, naming her Mariama. She becomes Issa's family and, as he begins to lose his sight, his eyes. Many years later, a mysterious stranger arrives at their doorstep, a stranger who will change both their lives for ever.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published October 8, 2013
2 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Mal Peet
84 books118 followersMal Peet grew up in North Norfolk, and studied English and American Studies at the University of Warwick. Later he moved to southwest England and worked at a variety of jobs before turning full-time to writing and illustrating in the early 1990s. With his wife, Elspeth Graham, he had written and illustrated many educational picture books for young children, and his cartoons have appeared in a number of magazines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 24, 2014
No one knows, understands or respects the African desert like Issa, who has been guiding travelers through it for many, many years. A desert storm can begin suddenly and before long, travelers are buried in the sweeping sand. One morning, as he was watching the sun come up, Issa realized there had been a storm, then he noticed a red ribbon with black and green embroidery on it in the desert. Hearing a cry and looking further, Issa finds a camel guarding a small baby.
Issa took the baby and camel home. He named the baby Mariama and raised her. As she grew, Issa taught her everything there was to know about the desert. Issa and Mariama were inseparable. One day, however, Issa told Mariama that he was going blind. She became his eyes, describing the things around them exactly as he had taught her to do: "Now we are passing the line of thorn trees that look like old women lifting their shawls over their heads."
One day, three travelers come seeking Issa's services as a guide. They do not want to take the long way through the desert, but the shortcut through the dangerous Bitter Mountains. They offer Issa a pouch of pearls as substantial payment for his guidance, enough to help secure Mariama's future. As the travelers are leaving, they discover Issa is now blind and guides with the help of a young girl, they get angry and leave.
In the morning, Mariama tells Issa that the travelers are gone, crossing the mountains without a guide. Issa decides they will go find the travelers. They follow their tracks but by the end of the day, they have lost them. The next day, Issa figures out where the travelers are based on Mariama's description, but soon, he realizes that a dust storm is coming and so are the three travelers. Issa directs them all to a gap in the mountains, where they wait out the sandstorm in safety.
The next day, the three travelers visit Issa to say goodbye, when the leaders notices a gold necklace Mariama is wearing. After she tells him that she was found as a baby wearing it, he invites them to sit so he can tell them a story that will change the lives of Issa and Mariama forever.
Yes, to those of you who have already read this lovely story, I know the ending is predictable. But the point of Mysterious Traveler isn't the ending. At the heart of it is the concept of family and how we define it. Mariama calls Issa grandfather even though they are not related (she also called him Baba which I took in its ancient Persian meanings of a term of endearment, but could also mean father). Is family only those that we are biologically related to or does it include those who loved us as if we are family?
Mysterious Traveler is an enchanting story that will certainly bring the tales of the Arabian Nights to mind, in both words and illustration. The language is picturesque and lyrical, evoking the the sights and sounds of a long ago way of life. Not only does it convey the gentle love between Issa and Mariama, but the language also shows the desert in all moods from calm and beautiful at sunrise, to angry and dark in a sandstorm.
This is the kind of story that is best read aloud, just as the Arabian Nights were told. It is perfect for classroom or bedtime reading, with its calm, gentle tone. The story is complimented by P.J. Lynch's beautiful, soft-focus watercolor and gouache illustrations, all done in earthy, desert tones. These are at once realistic and dreamlike. In fact, it was Lynch's cover illustration that first drew me to Mysterious Traveler.
Then I was delighted to see it was written by Mal Peet, a favorite of mine, and his wife Elspeth Graham. They have worked as a team before and once again, they have given us a story that we can all appreciate.
This book is recommended for readers age 6+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
Issa took the baby and camel home. He named the baby Mariama and raised her. As she grew, Issa taught her everything there was to know about the desert. Issa and Mariama were inseparable. One day, however, Issa told Mariama that he was going blind. She became his eyes, describing the things around them exactly as he had taught her to do: "Now we are passing the line of thorn trees that look like old women lifting their shawls over their heads."
One day, three travelers come seeking Issa's services as a guide. They do not want to take the long way through the desert, but the shortcut through the dangerous Bitter Mountains. They offer Issa a pouch of pearls as substantial payment for his guidance, enough to help secure Mariama's future. As the travelers are leaving, they discover Issa is now blind and guides with the help of a young girl, they get angry and leave.
In the morning, Mariama tells Issa that the travelers are gone, crossing the mountains without a guide. Issa decides they will go find the travelers. They follow their tracks but by the end of the day, they have lost them. The next day, Issa figures out where the travelers are based on Mariama's description, but soon, he realizes that a dust storm is coming and so are the three travelers. Issa directs them all to a gap in the mountains, where they wait out the sandstorm in safety.
The next day, the three travelers visit Issa to say goodbye, when the leaders notices a gold necklace Mariama is wearing. After she tells him that she was found as a baby wearing it, he invites them to sit so he can tell them a story that will change the lives of Issa and Mariama forever.
Yes, to those of you who have already read this lovely story, I know the ending is predictable. But the point of Mysterious Traveler isn't the ending. At the heart of it is the concept of family and how we define it. Mariama calls Issa grandfather even though they are not related (she also called him Baba which I took in its ancient Persian meanings of a term of endearment, but could also mean father). Is family only those that we are biologically related to or does it include those who loved us as if we are family?
Mysterious Traveler is an enchanting story that will certainly bring the tales of the Arabian Nights to mind, in both words and illustration. The language is picturesque and lyrical, evoking the the sights and sounds of a long ago way of life. Not only does it convey the gentle love between Issa and Mariama, but the language also shows the desert in all moods from calm and beautiful at sunrise, to angry and dark in a sandstorm.
This is the kind of story that is best read aloud, just as the Arabian Nights were told. It is perfect for classroom or bedtime reading, with its calm, gentle tone. The story is complimented by P.J. Lynch's beautiful, soft-focus watercolor and gouache illustrations, all done in earthy, desert tones. These are at once realistic and dreamlike. In fact, it was Lynch's cover illustration that first drew me to Mysterious Traveler.
Then I was delighted to see it was written by Mal Peet, a favorite of mine, and his wife Elspeth Graham. They have worked as a team before and once again, they have given us a story that we can all appreciate.
This book is recommended for readers age 6+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
June 24, 2021
Fantastic illustrator paired with a suspenseful story makes for a beautiful book! The watercolors are stunningly realistic, yet dreamy, and matches the story well.
October 29, 2017
Kisah sederhana dengan alur dan ilustrasi yang kuat.
Yay! Berhasil mengurangi 2 dari 6 tumpukan BBW Surabaya 😄
Yay! Berhasil mengurangi 2 dari 6 tumpukan BBW Surabaya 😄
April 16, 2013
Oh what can I say, this was beautiful from start to finish, and the illustrations were more than up to par. My 8 year old daughter and I loved it. It was a perfect bedtime book about love, family, travel, faith, beauty, luck and destiny, and is based in Mali, Western Africa.
April 3, 2014
A great story that I read to my two boys, who both enjoyed it. I loved the way that the author described things and all of the details that really helped me to see things. Also, the pictures are beautiful.
September 24, 2013
A beautifully told and illustrated tale.
December 24, 2013
Beautifully told tale with gorgeous illustrations. I am so thankful that I discovered this book.
February 3, 2015
Stunning illustrations enhance this simple story of family lost and found.
January 7, 2018
Spectacular illustrations. After a sandstorm a desert guide discovers an ill-tempered camel protecting an infant. He adopts the girl and they lived comfortably together. But when some travelers from a distant land make a reckless decision the guide and his daughter must come to the rescue. An exciting and atmospheric story set in a land similar to Timbuktu.
July 22, 2024
More of a short story than a picture book, this is a beautiful tale of a desert guide who finds a baby after a sand storm and raises her. When he goes blind with old age, she becomes his eyes.
The poetic language and story filled with love and danger is a treat to read, and the watercolor illustrations are powerful and beautiful.
The poetic language and story filled with love and danger is a treat to read, and the watercolor illustrations are powerful and beautiful.
December 26, 2017
With characters named Issa, Mariami, Abbas and JinJin I can’t help but think the story is not just about a guide who found a baby in the desert. That aside the writing is good and the illustrations are wonderful.
February 5, 2018
This beautifully illustrated African folk tale was a pleasure to read. I wish it had been longer, and I also thought it missed the little element of danger that usually hides in folk and fairy tales. Still, it was really enjoyable.
December 4, 2020
I don’t have enough words to describe how magical and astonishing this book is. Words and illustrations both are extremely beautiful and have the power to take you to the imaginary enchanting land where the story is based. Looking forward to read this beautiful tale to my 6-year old...
May 15, 2024
Great read-aloud for second grade—beautiful and suspenseful.
Desert guide finds a baby, raises her, then she becomes his eyes when he goes blind. When they save the lives of some doubting travelers, one turns out to be her brother. (Half a star necklace)
Not own voices at all.
Desert guide finds a baby, raises her, then she becomes his eyes when he goes blind. When they save the lives of some doubting travelers, one turns out to be her brother. (Half a star necklace)
Not own voices at all.
August 29, 2018
A beautifully told and illustrated folktale of life in the African desert.
February 3, 2019
Illustrations by P. J. Lynch are outstanding. His unique style of brown and beige hues very well depicts the aura of the desert in which the story is set.
February 24, 2019
A lovely, gentle story with wonderful illustrations.
February 28, 2019
A dry beauty is drawn out of the desert. And it is done well.
June 29, 2021
Beautiful story ❤️
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June 21, 20222022-Quick read that may be useful for our Africa unit.
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August 20, 2022
Who is the baby that Issa finds in a desert windstorm? What is her true destiny? This is a story of the special bond between a child & the parent who raises her and the family that gave her up.
October 15, 2023
Beautiful pictures with an enchanting story. 4.5 stars.
November 5, 2014
A slim volume - but what a gem of a book! A fantastic tale of mystery and adventure, beautifully told and accompanied by stunning illustrations. The story reminds of salt and gold caravans crossing the desert and was inspired by a guide, apparently blind, who led such caravans on their dangerous journeys. I had a hard time categorising it - as it is mystery, adventure, historical fiction, even a bit of traditional tale, reminding of ancient legends or a tale from the Arabian Nights.
September 28, 2013
Beautifully illustrated, matching the lyrical text, this story has almost a folk tale aspect. Desert guide Issa rescues a baby girl. Years later, when he has gone blind and she, Mariama, becomes his eyes, a wealthy young man with his servant companions seek a guide through the mountains. This encounter changes lives.
November 18, 2013
Mysterious Traveler is a story with the exotic flavor of an Arabian Night's Tale. It grips you from the start and leaves you savoring this powerful adventure in the desert. The gorgeous mix media paintings are haunting and intensify the mood of the story. This title would make an outstanding read aloud for multi-cultural units.
January 27, 2014
An old-fashioned tale that would make a great classroom or bedtime read-aloud for kids as young as six or seven. It's about an old man who guides travelers through the desert. It gives off a folktale vibe, though the story is original. I won't spoil the plot, but I will tell you it took me less than an hour to read and the illustrations are great.
February 4, 2014
My biggest dilemma about this book is where to shelve it for optimum borrowing opportunity! Not exactly a chapter book or a picture book, it would appeal to a wide range of readers. Doing a book talk about it will probably be the best way to promote it.
Those who will take time to step into this desert world will be rewarded with a story of mystery, sadness, and joy.
Those who will take time to step into this desert world will be rewarded with a story of mystery, sadness, and joy.
December 8, 2013
This is a stunning book and a beautiful tale set in Mali. A terrific read aloud for third grade students who study Mali as part of their Social studies curriculum. I love everything P. J. Lynch illustrates!
March 1, 2016
It's in that 'too long to be a very good read-aloud' category, but it is a very interesting story. And a very different setting than you normally see, which I really enjoyed. The pictures were WONDERFUL, but too few. I like it. 3.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews