With the Season upon us and books in my heart, I encourage families to read favorite stories aloud together at Christmas and make this your holiday tradition.
A “keeper” in my personal library and one well worth reading and rereading is Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmas Story by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet.
Originally published in Rylant’s 1987 collection, Children of Christmas, then republished as a picture book in 1997, I have been enjoying this beautiful story for nearly 40 years. No matter how many times I’ve read this tale (almost every Christmas), it tugs at my heartstrings.
According to Cynthia Rylant, Silver Packages “was inspired by a real train, the ‘Santa Train,’ which rolls through the Appalachian Mountains each Christmas season. From this train, tons of toys and treats are tossed by volunteers to the children of coal towns who wait patiently by the tracks. This has been happening every Christmas since 1943.” Legend has it the tradition was started by a wealthy man who wished to repay a debt he felt he owed the people who live there.
In Rylant’s story, each December a boy named Frankie waits beside the railroad tracks near his rural community, where life is hard and money is tight. When the packages, wrapped in shiny silver paper, are tossed from the caboose of the Christmas Train, all the children race to catch one. Year after year, Frankie wishes, hopes and prays for one particular present — a doctor kit. Each year he is disappointed. The doctor kit never comes. But Frankie’s hope is enduring. It is this hope that leads to transformation, and the understanding that we don’t always get what we want, but sometimes we get what we need.
Silver Packages is a perfect read-aloud about hardship and kindness, unconditional giving and gratitude, dreams and achievement, hope, and the true meaning of the Season.
My wish is that you share this and other stories this coming season — and throughout the year.
Merry Christmas, my friends.