Thread by Thread is the story of every refugee who bravely endures the journey and begins anew, a gentle introduction to a theme of pilgrimage and endurance, with details that invite discussion and a hopeful ending.
Thread by Thread by Alice Brière-Haquet, illustrated by Michela Eccli, translated by Sarah Ardizzone. Eerdmans, 2023. 32 pages.
- Reading Level: Picture books, ages 4-8
- Recommended For: Ages 4-8
The day I read this book, I gave up on a sweater I had been knitting and unraveled the whole thing to start over with something new. This book appealed to me because of the knitting theme in the illustrations, which provides symbolism in the story.
A family of mice live in a red “house” with windows, the lower part of a scarf that is still on the needle. But in the midst of a cozy life, the foundation of their home begins to unravel and they have no choice but to flee down the stairs of yarn. Under and over dangers they travel, holding tight to one another, while the remaining fiber dwindles to nothing and one of their members is lost (don’t worry, it’s okay). They arrive at the end of their, well, “rope,” sorrowful and grieving, to a welcoming, compassionate gathering of animals with knitting skills. Bit by bit, they make a new, colorful home that includes a piece of all that is left from their old home.
Bottom Line: Thread by Thread is the story of every refugee who bravely endures the journey and begins anew, a gentle introduction to a theme of pilgrimage and endurance, with details that invite discussion and a hopeful ending.
Recommended Reading at Redeemed Reader
- Book Reviews: Between Us and Abuela and Home Is In Between, both by Mitali Perkins
- Book Review: Memories of Survival by Esther Nisenthal Krinitz and Bernice Steinhardt
- Resource: Strangers and Sojourners, a Refugee and Immigration Booklist
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