Thread by Thread

"Incredibly clever illustrations . . . heavy-hitting text . . . A solid introspection and thoughtful metaphor, great for introducing young readers to the concept of immigration or supplementing older readers' interest in the topic." -- Booklist (STARRED REVIEW)

A moving refugee story, told through the language of knitting.

Knit one. Purl one. Oh no--there goes another stitch: and a family of mice watches its nest unravel. They flee across the water, past a fire-breathing dragon, toward the unknown. At last the family lands in a place where they can gather the strings of their past and their present together. With the help of some new friends, they can knit a new life.

Illustrated with colored-pencil drawings and plenty of yarn, this poetic book is a gentle way to discuss migration and displacement with children. Thread by Thread expresses both the pain of losing a home--and the joy of creating a new place to belong.

Author: Alice Brière-Haquet
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Published: 02/18/2025
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.63lbs
Size: 10.02h x 7.90w x 0.37d
ISBN: 9780802856395
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 12/01/2024
Booklist 01/01/2025 pg. 70

About the Author
Alice Brière-Haquet is a former high school teacher and the author of many books, including Phalaina (Levine Querido), Nina (Charlesbridge), and Pocket Philosophy: Schopenhauer's Porcupine (Oh! Editions). Her titles have received starred reviews from Booklist, Foreword, and Kirkus, and her book Phalaina was a starred inclusion on the Bank Street College of Education Best Books list. Alice lives in France. Follow her on Instagram @alicebrierehaquet or visit her blog at le-wonderblog.blogspot.com.

Michela Eccli is an Italian artist, illustrator, and author of children's books. She created the art for this book with drawing, photography, and skeins of yarn. Thread by Thread is Michela's English-language debut. Follow her on Instagram @michelaeccli and visit her website at michelaecccli.it.

Sarah Ardizzone has translated over fifty books from the French, including Alpha (Bellevue), Sweet Dreamers, and Letters from Bear (both Eerdmans). Her translations have been named to best-of-the-year lists by Kirkus, School Library Journal, and the Bank Street College of Education. Sarah lives in Brixton, England, where she and her family love knitting and all kinds of crafting with thread. Follow her on Instagram @sarahtranslatorardizzone.