THE UNBREAKABLE THREAD

The story of a parent-child bond.

Inspired by the Gambian practice of a parent leaving a thread with their child when they travel, this story opens on an image of a rosy-cheeked baby whose parent says that they are “bound together by a thread. An unbreakable thread.” As the child grows and eventually graduates, the thread unwinds little by little, and they both adjust to the idea of the child having friends, teachers, and other adults in their life. When parent and child argue, the thread tangles, and they work together to untangle it. The child’s other parent appears occasionally, but the text never mentions them. While a child’s growing up is a bittersweet and poignant experience for most parents, this tale, told mostly in second person, presents no conflict that might drive the plot or pique interest in this relationship. Joof’s overuse of the thread metaphor lessens its impact, and given the centering of an adult perspective, this story has little to offer children. The illustrations further detract from the narrative—some of the characters look wooden, and others have oddly proportioned facial features. Parent and child are Black; the child grows up in a diverse environment. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A lackluster read accompanied by a disappointing visual experience.