A young girl visits her great-grandfather and inquires about an old cigar box she finds in his den. As the great-grandfather opens the box, he shows her that it's filled with matchboxes, each of which contains an object from his past. He explains that as a child in Italy, before he could read or write, he wanted a way of remembering important moments in his life, so he started a matchbox diary. Opening one matchbox at a time, the young girl is taken on a journey through her great-grandfather's Italian childhood, his travels as an immigrant to America, and his life in this strange new land. As she leaves, the young girl is inspired to begin a collector's diary of her own.
This poignant, beautifully written and illustrated book will spark lively discussions during immigration units. It is also an outstanding choice for historical narrative writing lessons (or for any writing based on memories).
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