Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmas Story

A young Appalachian boy named Frankie hopes every year that the Christmas Train—a train traveling through the coal towns of the region each holiday season, dispensing gifts to the children from a wealthy man once helped by the local people—will bring him a doctor kit. Each year he is disappointed, receiving other toys, as well as warm winter items like socks, mittens hats and scarves. Eventually, many years later, when Frankie is grown and living far away, his memories of the gifts he received, and his own desire to give back, lead him to return to the town of his youth, to become the local doctor...

Originally included in author Cynthia Rylant's 1987 holiday collection, Children of Christmas: Stories for the Season, and then show more republished in this picture book edition with the artwork of Chris K. Soentpiet, Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmas Story is an engaging tale that addresses a number of important ideas and themes in an understated but moving way. There are the obvious ones, of course, from gratitude to the idea of giving back, especially when one has benefitted in some way from the generosity of others. But there is also the notion of gifts sometimes not being what we want so much as what we need—a reality we may not perceive until much later in life—or of our heart's desire (in this case, Frankie's attraction to medicine and healing) being something we ourselves must seek, rather than being something which can be given to us. The accompanying artwork here, done in gouache, is lovely, and captures the wintry Appalachian setting well. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for Christmas stories set in Appalachia, or addressing themes of gratitude and giving back to one's community. show less

In the dark, back woods of Appalachia, a rich man had a car accident as his car slipped precariously and stopped at the edge of a ridge. He was rescued by a woman who took him to her home and nursed him and provided food until he could become strong enough to return home.

The man was thankful and wanted to give money to the women who helped him, but she refused. He never forgot the poor area of Appalachia, and he never forgot the goodness of the person who helped him. He wanted to repay the debt.

Knowing the children lived in poverty, and most likely would not receive a Christmas present, every year, he boarded a train to take him to the area where he was saved. On the 23rd of December, the train slowly stays on the tracks as the rich man show more throws a shiny large package to each child on the ground who awaits his kindness and they are thankful for their gifts.

In a bitter cold winter, the children receive mittens, or a scarf, or a pair of gloves to cover their cold, swollen fingers. And, there are toys in the boxes as well. It's not that Frankie isn't grateful for those socks and gloves, and the shiny police car with lights, but once again, Frankie is disappointed because all he really wants is a doctor kit.

Frankie eventually moves out of the hills, and he becomes a doctor. He is surrounded by people who are different than those living in Appalachia. He remembers the kindness of the man who provides a bright silver package to each child every Christmastime.

Frankie moved back to Appalachia where his brothers and sisters still live. On December 23, he stood by the tracks of the train that would bring gifts to those in need. One year, he watched as an excited girl received her package, and in her excitement she fell.

Frankie helped her. He originally was going to wave to the rich man who had provided him with presents for so many years, instead, he turned to help the little girl.

I very much love these stories that some would say are corny or sappy. The stories are always paired with an excellent writer, and the loving illustrations of C.K. Soentpiet.

I've read most of the books written by Cynthia Rylant. She's won many awards, including the Newberry Medal, and the Boston-Horn Book Award. She always write from the heart! show less

Young Frankie wants a doctor kit each year as the rich man riding the Christmas train and tossing silver packages to children comes along. Each year he is disappointed to not receive the doctor kit. Instead he receives something he needs plus a toy. The rich man was trying to repay a debt. As an adult, Frank who had moved away returns to repay the debt he feels he owes. The illustrations are gorgeous! The book could be used to discuss all sorts of things such as thankfulness, poverty, giving back to the community, etc.

Based on a real train, in this story by Cynthia Rylant, we learn that "a train comes through Appalachia every year at Christmas time." Years before, a wealthy man had a car accident while driving through the town, and was generously taken care of by the townspeople. They would not accept payment in return for their help, and so he decided to give the children of the town Christmas gifts each year, via a train. One young boy, Frankie, awaits the train in the cold each Christmas, hoping to receive a doctor's kit from the rich man. Each year, he receives a different present, but never the kit he hoped for. Readers see Frankie as a grown man, who moved away to a big city, but continued to think about that Christmas train, and how the man show more repaid the town for its kindness. So, Frankie decides to move back to Appalachia. He returned to wait for the train on Christmas day, but soon saw a girl trip over her tossed present. Frankie makes sure she is okay, and tells her, "I'm a doctor." I loved this story, from beginning to end. It tells three stories in one book. First, we see the wealthy man that wants to repay the town. Then, we see young Frankie run after the train each year. And finally, we see grown-up Frankie, the doctor, leave the big city, and return to his roots. Illustrator Chris K. Soentpiet's watercolor paintings add so much to the telling of Frankie's story. We see how small and isolated the town his, consisting of scattered houses and a church. As the children wait outside for the train on Christmas, readers can feel the Appalachian cold. We see the children bury their hands in their pockets, raise their shoulders, holding their arms close at their sides, while their teeth chatter away. We see what joy the train brings to them. We see how anxious Frankie is, and how much he hopes for his doctor's kit. And then, that first year, we see the look of disappointment on his face, even though he tries to hide it from his family. Later in his life, when Frankie returns to his hometown, before he tells the little girl that he is a doctor, in the corner of the page, about the size of a quarter, readers will instantly spot Frankie holding a doctor's bag. At that moment, I knew Frankie did the right thing, by returning to his hometown. show less

In Appalachia each Christmas, a boy named Frankie waits beside the tracks for the Christmas Train, which will bring presents to the children who live in coal towns and hollows. Year after year, Frankie hopes that one particular gift -- one very special gift -- will be tossed to him from that train. And it is this enduring hope that will guide him to the true meaning of the season.

Cynthia Rylant's story about expectation and the transforming power of kindness first appeared in her acclaimed collection Children of Christmas. Now gloriously illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet with watercolor paintings of glistening trains and snow-covered hills, it shines all the more brightly.

Saccharin lesson in Paying it Forward. I didn't even like Soentpiet's art as much as usual. Why do most Christmas stories have so much sentiment that they can't be enjoyed the rest of the year?

In Appalachia each Christmas, a boy named Frankie waits beside the tracks for the Christmas Train, which will bring presents to the children who live in coal towns and hollows. Year after year, Frankie hopes that one particular gift -- one very special gift -- will be tossed to him from that train. And it is this enduring hope that will guide him to the true meaning of the season. Cynthia Rylant's story about expectation and the transforming power of kindness first appeared in her acclaimed collection Children of Christmas. Now gloriously illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet with watercolor paintings of glistening trains and snow-covered hills, it shines all the more brightly.
show more target="_top">https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Packages-Appalachian-Christmas-Story/dp/053130051X...

This is a gorgeous book!!! The illustrations are amazing and the story is heart-warming. It could be used to talk about poverty, needs versus wants, repaying a debt, and community. It would make a great book for talking about giving back to people who have helped you as well as following your dreams. The students could write about a time when they received a present they did not think they wanted but ended up needing, or start a school wide winter clothes drive for those who do not have adequate winter clothing. show less