The Gift of a Traveler

by Wendy Matthews

Seven-year-old Christine spends Christmas Eve helping her great-grandmother decorate her tree and sharing the story of a very special ornament that came from Rumania many years before

Genres: Picture Books, Christmas, Childrens, Holiday

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Rachael Hartzell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous addition to our Christmas book collection! This a beautiful story of a Romanian great-grandma sharing astory with her great-grandaughter about her most treasured gift from her childhood. While this is a longer picture book, we didn't mind because Wendy Matthews' storytelling is captivating!

[Jennifer Tanabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this book to my daughter every year at Christmas - it was such a joy! And the illustrations are so amazing. What a lovely book to own and treasure.

I wrote a longer review of this book here.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

lots to like
- 1910 Romania, isolated mountain home
- cross generational connection
- special Christmas ornaments
- traditions

I appreciate Christmas stories that focus on traditions rather than on Santa Claus and presents.

[Ulana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christine spent the day with her Great-grandmother on Christmas Eve. Her Great-grandmother showed her little boxes from Romania. Christina found an ornament in the box. Her Great-grandmother told her the story of the ornament. It was about a mysterious stranger and a large wolf named Sasha.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writer Wendy Matthews wrote the Christmas story entitled The Gift of A Traveler. Robert van Nutt illustrated the book. The illustrations are excellent. The clothing of the characters is beautiful. The seven-year-old girl is helping her great-grandmother decorate her Christmas tree in the 1990s. The little girl named Christine is afraid of her great-grandmother. Christine finds a unique ornament that is very special to her great-grandmother. Christine's great-grandmother tells her how she received the ornament from a traveler, “a tigan” or a person of Roma background. The traveler has a dog that plays a significant role in the story. Christine’s great-grandmother is from Romania. This person is the traveler of the title. The great-grandmother was a seven-year-old in 1910. The book was first published in 1995, so the great-grandmother is supposed to be “more than ninety years old.” Christine's great-grandmother grew up in the mountains of Romania. I read an edition of the book that was published in 2001. The setting of the book of Romania makes the book seem different and unique compared to other Christmas stories. I enjoyed The Gift of a Traveler. The book is readable. The book is also a remarkable story of cross-generational bonding. The book is a beautiful Christmas story.

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Romania - ?

[Miri Gifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, I loved this.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story! (Keep)