THE RED THREAD

A red thread connects those who are destined to be together, according to the ancient Chinese belief. A little girl holds up her favorite book as she and her parents snuggle on the couch to read. The next page transports the reader to the Middle Ages as, from their castle, a King and Queen gaze over the lush landscape. They are well-loved and their kingdom is prosperous, yet something is missing. The king and queen both have a deep ache in their hearts. One day a peddler offers them magical spectacles and suddenly they can see the bright scarlet thread, coming from each of their hearts and flowing all around them. The two set off on a long and difficult journey, following the twisting thread. At last they arrive at a distant village to find the pudgy bundle at the end of their thread. The illustrations are painted in deeply rich colors and are imbued with details that lend a fairy-tale ambiance. This is a splendid addition to the adoption category, but perfectly wonderful for any reader who likes stories that tug at the heartstrings. (Picture book. 3-7)