THREAD BY THREAD

A family of mice suddenly find their cozy red knitted home unraveling.

No longer safe, the creatures flee, traveling past various dangers in search of refuge. With the help of welcoming neighbors, they build a colorful home from the remnants of their old dwelling and new yarn balls—symbolic representations of the heavy emotional burdens that they can now release. Laced with knitting terminology, this French import explores the turmoil and heartache endured by many refugees. Photographs of yarn and knitting needles combine with muted line drawings of the animals for a visually rich tale that makes effective use of texture, shadow, and color. The author and illustrator use yarn, portrayed here as both a means of escape and a symbol of peril, to heighten the emotional and physical tension. Though the artwork is approachable and kid-friendly, the abstract text at times risks framing refugees as passively or willingly accepting their fate (“We leave without making a fuss,” “We leave without a word of complaint”). While adults will appreciate the poignant message about rebuilding a life (“With these threads of ourselves, / with these spools of worry, / knit one in silk, / purl one in wool”), the complex figurative language may go over children’s heads. Still, with a loving grown-up to put the work in context, it could spark conversations about the effects of being uprooted.

A visually compelling take on the refugee experience that may be too lofty for its target audience.