Product Description

(Ages 4-8) There is an ancient Chinese belief that an invisible, unbreakable red thread connects all those who are destined to be together. A king and queen rule a beautiful and peaceful land. They should be full of joy and contentment, but they both feel a strange pain that worsens every day.

Then a peddler's magic spectacles reveal a red thread pulling at each of their hearts. The king and queen know they must follow the thread-wherever it may lead. Grace Lin's lovely adoption fairy tale is for all children-and the parents who would search the world to find them.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #98931 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 28 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780807569221
• Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
• Notes:
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3—Lin offers a contemporary fairy tale, using a story within a story to weave in a Chinese belief that "an invisible, unbreakable red thread connects all who are destined to be together." It begins with an Asian girl, who looks no older than five, asking her Caucasian parents to read a favorite story "again," thus introducing the main story: a royal couple both suffer a mysterious pain in their chests that nothing can remedy or explain, until a peddler gives them magic spectacles that allow them to see a red thread bound tightly around their hearts. They follow its loose end for days, crossing a sea, the pain gradually easing, until they reach a small village in a foreign land and find a gurgling, smiling baby at the end. A wise old villager tells them, "This baby belongs to you." Bright illustrations and vivid language will likely appeal even to preschoolers, though some children will need to have the connection to adopting a baby from China made more explicit through additional discussion. Karen Acres's Little Miss Ladybug & Her Magical Red Thread (Ladybug, 2003) also deals with this theme. This lovely book has general appeal, but it's particularly suitable for patrons requesting adoption titles, and especially transracial adoption of children from China.—Deborah Vose, Highlands Elementary School, Braintree, MA
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About the Author
Grace Lin, who lives in Massachusetts, previously illustrated The Seven Chinese Sisters written by Kathy Tucker. This is the first book Ms. Lin has written for Albert Whitman.

Customer Reviews

A WARM, TOUCHING STORY

Basing her warm story on an ancient Chinese belief that "an invisible, unbreakable red thread connects all those who are destined to be together," Grace Lin has fashioned a tender tale that will hold special appeal for adopted children and adoptive parents.

At the center of her story are a king and queen who rule an incredible kingdom where there is never any famine or drought. They're beloved by their subjects, still they feel something is missing in their lives.

Soon both of them feel pain in their hearts, pain that worsens with each day. Finally, a peddler arrives with spectacles that allows them to see that a red thread is tugging at each of their hearts. They're unable to cut the thread to ease their pain, so their only choice is to follow it.

They never dreamed how far they would have to go or how difficult their journey would be. They wondered, "Was it a ferocious beast or a cruel magician? What would they do when they met whatever was on the other end?"

All will be touched by what the king and queen discover; many may have felt the same joy.

- Gail Cooke

disturbing book
I truly enjoy Grace Lin's work and I am surprised that she would publish a book with such disturbing images. I adopted my daughter from China when she was one. I read this book to her when she was 4 years old. She was very upset by the image of a red thread causing her father and me terrible pain while we waited to be united with her. She was especially upset by the passages in which the King and Queen try to imagine what is at the other end of the thread. Much of what they imagine is scary. Because the thread is connected to the baby waiting to be adopted my daughter felt as though she had caused pain to her father and me while we waited for her. For weeks after we read the book, I had to reassure her that she did not cause us pain and that the story was just pretend. I understand that the author is trying to convey that it is hard and sometimes painful to wait to be united with your child, but for some kids the images in this book can be taken in the wrong way. I myself was upset by the book. I believe that it is important to share with your child the fact that there is both joy and pain inherent in adoption, but not with these images.

Red Thread
I'm a children's therapist and bought a number of books on foster care and adoption - this one was the biggest hit. I find that kids relate more to metaphorical stories rather than the didactic ones.