The Gift of Words - Peter H. Reynolds - ★★★★.¼

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AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR: Peter H. Reynolds
SERIES: Word Collector #2
GENRE: Children's Picture Book
PUBLICATION DATE: October 7, 2025
RATING: 4.25 stars.


In a Nutshell: A lovely picture book about the beauty and power of words. Set around Christmas season but applicable throughout the year. Adorable lead character, wonderful message and stunning illustrations. Much recommended.


Plot Preview:
Young Jerome loves collecting words. Every now and then, he takes his little notebook and walks through town looking for new words with his rescue dog Ekka for company. But this holiday season, he cannot find any words that "warm his heart" even though he looks everywhere. Then an idea strikes him. If he cannot find the words he likes, what if he shares the good words that he already has with the world?


I've been on a reading binge of whatever picture books I can find written by Peter H. Reynolds. His heartwarming writing and beautiful illustrations are just what I need when the world is going crazier by the day. It's somewhat meta that this book ends up doing exactly what its protagonist Jerome wants to do: use words to spread positivity in a world that's increasingly dismal and self-centred.

Jerome is a lovely character. His passion for words is amazing to read, and even more impressive is his determination to find positive words. What I love best is that he didn’t give up even after multiple attempts. He actually took action to remedy the problem instead of just crying or criticising or walking away. Ekko is the perfect companion for Jerome. It is so lovely to see the little dog accompany the little boy enthusiastically on every task.

Jerome’s attempt at a solution involves a tree, which ends up as significant as an actual Christmas tree because of the beauty it ultimately holds on its branches. You can say, this is a Christmas TREE story but not a CHRISTMAS tree story. I do like how the significance of the four Sundays of Advent are hinted at on the cover.

As the story unfurls during Advent time, it shows how the city is more focused on the commercial aspects of Christmas. Despite this, the book is not religious in the traditional sense. There is no overt faith-based content, though it does make indirect references such as ‘season of goodwill’ or show a sleigh full of gift sacks. So the book could work for everyone, Christian believer or not.

The message in the book is very relevant to all of us these days when everywhere we see words of hatred, bigotry, vanity, destruction, and ignorance. Perhaps it is on us readers to be like Jerome and share some positive words with the world.

The story is written in simple prose in a typeface that I loved! There are a couple of tougher words, but nothing that would be a major hurdle for little ones. Because of the nature of the plot and structuring, there are ample opportunities for adults to add sound effects and actions and exaggerated emotions to the story while reading this book aloud.

The illustrations in the book are as jolly and heartwarming as can be expected from this author. Every page is bright and energetic, even when it is filled with snow. The expressions on Jerome’s and Ekko’s faces are perfect. Unlike typical picture books, the illustrations in this story are more significant because they contain elements that the text only refers to. So the writing and the illustrations work in sync to deliver the story. It is rare that illustrations serve the deeper purpose of filling in the textual gaps in picture books. This might stump some early readers but could also be a fabulous way of learning new words. It helps that all the keywords in the pics are written in CAPS.

Definitely recommended. This would be a wonderful book for every little one who knows the value of good words and can remind the adults in their lives of the same. This book would work well in homes as well as classrooms, and suits readers aged 4-8.

While picking up this book, I didn’t know that it is a follow-up to ‘The Word Collector’. So off I go looking for it so that I learn how young Jerome’s passion for words began.

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