The Unbreakable Thread

by Emily Joof, Asma Enayeh (Illustrator)

A bittersweet celebration of the everlasting bond between a mother and child through the changing phases of their lives.

The thread between a mother and child starts to unwind when the child begins to walk, talk, and run. It stretches a little more on the first day of school. It swirls and unfurls the further the child gets from Mom’s reach. One thing is constant ― that it always remains.

Emily Joof channeled her Gambian upbringing to pen this story, which was inspired by a local tradition of leaving a thread with the child when a parent travels.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 4, 2022

About the author

Emily Joof moved to Sweden 10 years ago and works as the Global Education Technical Advisor at Save the Children Sweden.

She is an author of children's books and writes stories with a focus on inclusion and diversity from an afro diasporan perspective.

Emily is published by the Swedish Publisher Raben & Sjögren and also self publishes some of her titles through her independent publishing house Mbife Books.

Emily is currently doing a part time PhD at Lancaster university in the UK , the focus of her research being on the impact that Children’s Literature can have on fostering inclusions in preschools.

Emily has a masters in education and international development from University of London institute of Education. And a Bachelors degree in ancient history and social anthropology from University College London.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This picture book is a 2.5 for me. I'm guessing that parents might find it more relatable than youngsters since so often they are eager to grow up and become more independent. The idea of a thread that is unbreakable holding parent and child together no matter how much that child grows or where he/she/they may go is an interesting one that bears consideration and has cultural significance. In this particular book, told from the mother's perspective, she is aware of this thread and watches with mixed feelings as it stretches with each step toward independence in a series of firsts--through learning to walk and talk, attending school for the first time, making a new friend, sleeping over at a friend's house for the first time, and graduating from high school. I wish the author had included a few more milestones in the child's journey to adulthood and that the thread itself had literally been woven throughout the illustrations for visual impact. Maybe a discussion of the cultural impact of this "unbreakable thread" idea would have made the story even better. For me, it just needed more content, and I wondered about how those youngsters who didn't feel a connection to a parent or their mother might feel when reading this one. Perhaps I'm overthinking all of this.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a little child begins to grow up, the unbreakable thread of love between mother and child is stretched, but never broken. The child learns a little more independence all the time, learning to walk, going to school, making friends, and finally graduating from school. But all the time the love of the mother is there to encourage and comfort. That support is what gives the child strength to explore and learn. And all the time, the unbreakable thread of their bond is always changing and always constant.

This is such a sweet book! What a beautiful lesson about family bonds and the strength of a family's love. I love the absolute safety and support of the mother's bond with her child.

The illustrations are lovely! I like the cartoony style and the beautiful design of each page.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Patricia Q · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a nice baby shower gift.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mothers have a thread of love for each of their children and in this story the child is a baby and grows and his mother is there for him as he starts preschool, finds friends, plays in the park, and gives him space as he grows older and finishes school. But the mother knows she has to let him go on to college and jobs and being an adult.

[A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly derivative of The Invisible String but I like that this one addresses the natural independence of a child as they age.

[Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book about the unbreakable bond between mother and child. Distance will grow as they grow older, but you’ll always be connected. Definitely want to give this to Rowan.