| Title | : | The Traveler's Gift: A Story of Loss and Hope |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1624147658 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781624147654 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 40 |
| Publication | : | Published October 8, 2019 |
Woven with themes of loss, discovery, and friendship, this poignant tale captures the unexpected magic of shared stories and refound hope.
The Traveler's Gift: A Story of Loss and Hope Reviews
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A beautiful book that follows the magical journey of a young boy learning to tell his story
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Liam’s father was a sailor who always brought back stories of his time a sea. Liam loved the way his father’s stories could transport him. But when his father didn’t return from a voyage, Liam lost the ability to connect with stories any longer. It wasn’t until an unusual man with an amazing multi-colored beard arrived on a ship that Liam heard stories that could compare with his father’s. The man asked for a volunteer to accompany him on his next journey, and out of a crowd of people, he selected Liam. The two traveled together with the man showing Liam how to listen and how to see things. After some time together, the man reached the end of his travels and offered Liam a gift, a gift of stories and storytelling.
Davison celebrates the power of stories and storytelling in this picture book. She explores how important stories are to create connection and then how dark life can be when that bridge of stories is gone. The traveler is an interesting character with his gift of stories but also his touch of magic, his multi-colored beard telling the tales along with him. Seen as strange by some but awe-inspiring for someone like Liam who uses stories as a language.
The illustrations use color very cleverly. Liam goes from a life of full color to one of grays, blacks and whites, his world tinged with grief and loss. Everyone around him to are in muted colors, except for the Traveler, who arrives with his bright beard of greens, reds and yellows that offer space for stories to appear. At the end of the book, readers will see the gift of stories pass to Liam with a transfer of the colors as well. It’s beautifully and touching.
A great story all about the power of stories. Appropriate for ages 4-6. -
Summary:
The Traveler's Gift tells the story of Liam. Liam's father, a sailor, travels the seas and has many stories to tell. One day, his father does not return. The loss Liam endures cause his world to turn gray until one day, an old man with a colorful, magical beard appeared at the port. The old man, a traveler, is searching for a companion to travel with him and he picks Liam. They see many things together and the old man tells Liam lots of stories. The old man's beard posses grows longer and more full as he shares his stories. Liam enjoys the companionship of the old man and eventually he passes on the gift of story telling to Liam.
Evaluation:
This book is touching and beautifully illustrated. Danielle Davison does an excellent job using color to depict emotions and tell a story. It was interesting to see how Liam turned grey as he endured the loss of his father and how the stories being told added lots of color and life to the pages.
Teaching Point:
I would use this book to show students how important color can be in telling a story and have them associate different colors with emotions and then illustrate a picture that tells a story of a wild adventure. -
Warning: This book may make you cry. The story is definitely one of loss, double loss, and not only does the text reflect that and the art but the color of the images. About half the images stretch across both pages so get comfortable so you can sit side-by-side as you read. There is also hope in the book but I won't spoil the plot for you by revealing more other than to say that it makes sense and is beautiful. It was a bit intense for the little I shared it with so you may want to consider how much death the child you are thinking of giving this to or reading it to has personally experienced. It could be a good book to spark conversations about loss but if a personal loss is recent, this may be too much.
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The Traveler’s Gift
Sometimes you pick up a book and something magical happens when you open its pages- it pulls you into a wondrous new world. For me, that was the experience this book gave me! The tale was woven together beautifully with gorgeous illustrations to match. What an awesome story about the power of storytelling!
Written by Danielle Davison, debut author, but remotely a stranger to the world of books herself, Ms. Davison is a former librarian, living in Minnesota with her husband and four children.
Author Danielle Davison
Illustrator Anne Lambelet
Published 2019 by Page Street Kids
#kidlit #thetravelersgift -
Solid storytelling enhanced by imagination-spurring illustrations. My only issue was that it wasn't clear if there was a mother in the picture because the first thing I thought when the boy went with the traveler was "what about his mother?" I presume she wasn't in the picture because it seems off that she would never be mentioned otherwise.
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What a charming story with illustrations to match! A beautiful story about loss intertwined with the power of storytelling. The enchanting colorful beard of The Traveler leaps off the pages, containing many more stories within this story that young readers can imagine up. Stunning. Stunning. Stunning.
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Gorgeous illustrations combined with a catching plot.
Living life at its fullest with an amazing companion inspired a boy to tell his own stories.
“As they traveled, Enzo taught Liam to listen, really listen, to the world around him.
And he taught him how to see things,
Truly see things, with more than just his eyes.” -
The cover of The Traveler’s Gift promises “a story of loss and hope,” and it delivers! The genius of this story is its many layers. On the surface, it offers amazing adventures and gorgeous illustrations, but a deeper look rewards us with a heartwarming new take on loss and renewal. Highly recommended!
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This story was so beautiful. In words and in illustrations. a young boy befriends a story teller and learns the craft himself in this wonderful tale. It's a story about grief and the stories that comfort us and make grief bearable.
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This book was received as a Goodreads giveaway. This will not affect the review.
A wonderful children's book that looks at loss and grief in a beautiful way and uses the power of storytelling to inspire hope and friendship. -
Anne Lambelet’s art is perfect for this story. It’s atmospheric and particular in tone, raising a good story to the next level. I like to read it aloud, even though parts of the story will go over children’s heads. The whole thing together is wondrous.
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A book about loss and the power of story to keep memories alive. Stunning illustrations.
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3.5 stars. I liked the illustrations better than the story.
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Come for the jaw-droppingly beautiful, delicate, sinuous illustrations.
Stay for the moving and heartfelt tale about the power of story and the ways it can help us overcome grief.
Not to be missed. -
Oh man, this book. It is as magical and gorgeous as the cover suggests. I love stories about storytelling, and think any BIG FISH lovers will love this book too. Also: YES to rainbow beards.
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Such stunning illustrations, a unique story featuring loss and hope!
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What a fantastic book. Magical illustrations, and a fascinating story. I am very impressed.
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Beautiful illustrations.
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Unbelievably gorgeous!
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306/365
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I like the illistrations more than the story but it all works together so it was more than a 3 star.
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This is such a beautiful story, extremely moving and memorable. The illustrations are lovely and engaging. I cry every time I read it to my daughter!