The longest, strongest thread

Saying goodbye to Grandma before a big move is hard. Grandma's cozy sewing studio is filled with snug bolts of fabric and endless spools of thread. The child narrator, whose family is moving to "where the lakes freeze in winter," will miss Grandma very much. Grandma busies herself sewing a special project while her grandchild plays with fabric scraps to ease anxiety. First, tiny hands create a small map so Grandma always knows the way to the new house. Then, because it is so far away, a lumpy little airplane is stitched so Grandma always has transportation. The youngster imagines holding a strong magnet that will pull Grandma (and her sewing pins) directly to the child whenever needed. Grandma's strong, capable hands make a warm coat for those cold winter months, and Grandma gently explains while sewing the final button, "We are connected by the longest, strongest thread in the whole world." Circles of blue swoop around the two; another spread shows Grandma holding one end of a thread and the child holding the other. Fabric textures and layers saturate the art, standing out starkly against the vast, white backdrop, with bold yet soothing pops of yellow and blue standing out. Grandma and her grandchild have skin that's the white of the paper. The idea of people being linked by a thread of connection isn't new, but it's comforting just the same. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Deeply woven with love. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.