Purchase to Support Our Program

“Though avid readers know that books are precious, that this one contains the history of a people uprooted by war makes it more precious, and its existence makes it impossible to erase the culture…A poignant and accessible story about the importance of the survival of a people’s history as well as of the people themselves. Excellent.”

—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“This refugee parable is presented in intentionally ambiguous terms, with the collage (incorporating pages of the destroyed books) and color palette complementing the tone…This is not a message about the specifics of war, but one of refugees’ hopeful perseverance through cherished stories and objects they preserve for future generations.”

—Booklist

“This beautifully written and illustrated picture book is an excellent read-aloud and discussion starter for elementary school classes talking about war and the resilience of displaced peoples.”

—School Library Journal

The Treasure Box

Written by Margaret Wild
Illustrated by Freya Blackwood
Published by Candlewick

A moving and ultimately hopeful look at what we hold most dear — and carry with us — when we are forced to flee our homes because of war.

When the enemy bombs the library, everything burns, and only one book survives. As war rages around them, Peter and his father, alongside so many refugees, flee their home, taking with them a treasure box that holds something rarer than rubies and more precious than gold. They journey through mud and rain and long cold nights, and soon survival becomes more important than any possession. But as the years go by, Peter never forgets the treasure box, and one day he returns to find it.

This moving story from celebrated author Margaret Wild is illustrated with Freya Blackwood’s subtly affecting artwork, which incorporates pages of children’s books in translation. The result is a haunting and beautiful tale of the power of stories and the resilience of the human spirit.

Primary ISBN: 9780763690847
Publication Date: April 2017
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Picture Book, Age 05 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: Unspecified

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Refugee, On Journey

Click here for details about how we define our titles.

Engagement Projects & Resources:

Share your favorite resources for this book with info@imyourneighborbooks.org.