Description

Book Synopsis

A breathtaking immigration tale with appeal across generations.

When a little girl visits her great-grandfather at his curio-filled home, she chooses an unusual object to learn about: an old cigar box. What she finds inside surprises her: a collection of matchboxes making up her great-grandfather's diary, containing objects she can hold in her hand, each one evoking a memory. Together they tell of his journey from Italy to a new country, before he could read and write the olive stone his mother gave him to suck on when there wasn't enough food; a hairpin he found on the boat; a ticket still retaining the thrill of his first baseball game. With a narrative entirely in dialogue, Paul Fleischman makes immediate the two characters' foray into the past. With warmth and an uncanny eye for detail, Bagram Ibatoulline gives expressive life to their journey through time and towards each other.



Trade Review
A moving glimpse into (the character’s) childhood. * The Bookseller *

The Matchbox Diary

    Product form

    £7.99

    Includes FREE delivery

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Wed 29 Jul 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Paul Fleischman, Bagram Ibatoulline

    15 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman

      Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
      Publication Date: Publication Date: 03/07/2014
      ISBN13: 9781406355352, 978-1406355352
      ISBN10: 1406355356
      Also in:
      Baby, Toddler & Pre-School

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      A breathtaking immigration tale with appeal across generations.

      When a little girl visits her great-grandfather at his curio-filled home, she chooses an unusual object to learn about: an old cigar box. What she finds inside surprises her: a collection of matchboxes making up her great-grandfather's diary, containing objects she can hold in her hand, each one evoking a memory. Together they tell of his journey from Italy to a new country, before he could read and write the olive stone his mother gave him to suck on when there wasn't enough food; a hairpin he found on the boat; a ticket still retaining the thrill of his first baseball game. With a narrative entirely in dialogue, Paul Fleischman makes immediate the two characters' foray into the past. With warmth and an uncanny eye for detail, Bagram Ibatoulline gives expressive life to their journey through time and towards each other.



      Trade Review
      A moving glimpse into (the character’s) childhood. * The Bookseller *

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account