The Red Thread: An Adoption Fairy Tale

by Grace Lin

There is an ancient Chinese belief that an invisible, unbreakable red thread connects all those who are destined to be together. A king and queen rule a beautiful and peaceful land. They should be full of joy and contentment, but they both feel a strange pain that worsens every day. Then a peddler's magic spectacles reveal a red thread pulling at each of their hearts. The king and queen know they must follow the thread--wherever it may lead. Grace Lin's lovely adoption fairy tale is for all children--and the parents who would search the world to find them.

Genres: Picture Books, Adoption, Fiction, Childrens, Family, Fantasy, Fairy Tales

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2007

Reviews

[Linda Lipko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note that Grace Lin is also the author of the award-winning books Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky

Based on an old Chinese tale, the theme here is the bond between those who want to adopt a child, and the child that longs for adoption. Consequently, there is an invisible red thread, which is also unbreakable and it connects those who are destined to be together.

When the king and queen experience hurt in their heart, Fortunate, yet wondering why the pain in their heart exist, a peddler arrives in their kingdom and provides glasses to them so they can see and find the red thread that binds them.

Placing the glasses on their eyes, the red thread becomes visible. Beginning on a long journey wherein day after day and night after night they travel until their clothes and shoes and thread bare. It was a harsh journey, yet as they traveled many, many miles the thread began to grow shorter.

Traveling over mountains, rowing a boat through water, finally the arrive at the end of the red thread to find a baby girl in a bundle inside a cradle. Their hearts were warmed and painless.

Now filled with joy, they brought their baby girl home.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lin's fairy tale celebrates the connection between parents and children adopted from other countries. No doubt many families will treasure this story together.

My discomfort with policies that prevent birth families from raising their own children and policies that encourage overseas adoption makes the book uncomfortable for me ro read. I recognize that adoptive parents have the best intentions and that they truly love their children, and that Lin isn't wrong to validate that bond. And yet, I squirm as one never forced to consider that option in order to create the family I desired.

Library copy

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best, most beautiful books on adoption.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet tale of how parents are connected to their adoptive children. The artwork is simple, and helps to tell the story very well.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fairy tale that brought me to tears! It is about a king and queen who desired a child and eventually got one by following the red thread that was tied to their hearts and a baby awaits at the end. It is a Chinese fairy tale and would be an amazing thing to share with an adopted child, especially one that came from another country. You have to read this book and I will bring it to class on Saturday.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't love the illustrations in this book, but that's my only disappointment. It was a sweet way to explain to an adopted child why their family just wasn't complete without them. Especially applicable if the parents had to travel to pick up the child.

[Bethany Joy · Rating 1 out of 5]

So disappointed in this book. We have loved most of Grace Lin's work and I was excited to have an accessible book for my little ones about adoption. Sadly this book was entirely Adoptive parent centric, and completely erased the child history.

[Janessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

the way the asian villagers were described is so upsetting. as if transracial adoptees don’t already feel incredibly different without saying the other villagers “look so strange”.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a fairytale about a king and queen who are attached to a red thread. The king and queen have heavy hearts and they set out on a journey to find where the thread is leading them. They end up at a small bundle of blankets at the door of a house in a village far away. The bundle turns out to be a baby girl and the king and queen are joyful and their hearts feel full and happy again. I liked this book because it introduced adoption in an interesting way. It also had realistic qualities such as the parents traveling to a faraway land in hope to find a baby. Children would enjoy this story because of it's fantasy appeal as well as the characters and emotions that are explored throughout the book. Young children can relate to the characters because they are familiar with feelings of sadness, love, and happiness. The book's illustrations depict castles, land, seas, and villages where the main characters travel. The images tell the story in a fluid and understandable way. The main characters travel to different lands and come across obstacles when they are in a land and do not know the language of that land. There is diversity introduced in the story as far as the main characters traveling to a different land. Ultimately it is more representative of one main culture. I do like that there are not any cultural biases in the book. This would be a good book to read students in the classroom because it has a fairytale element as well as an informational element as far as types of adoption.

[Caitlin Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Red Thread is a fairy tale about a king and queen who adopt a baby. The king and queen experience much pain in their hearts, which a peddler identifies as being caused by the pulling of red threads that are coming out of the king and queen’s hearts. When no blade can cut the thread, the two embark on a quest to find whatever is on the other side of the thread. They find a small village after a long journey, and a baby who is connected to the threads. The king and queen took the baby home. I chose this story for my families text set as a representation of adoption. The story would likely hold the interest of children, as it is a mystery as to why the threads are there and what they lead to. Children may wonder why the baby is alone, and it would be a great launching point for a discussion about adoption. The problem of the queen and king’s pain is solved by the baby, they needed someone to care for and love. The illustrations are colorful and engaging, although there is one scene where the king and queen have some bloody scrapes from their travels. This may upset younger children, as well as the threads coming out of the king and queen’s hearts. There are some different cultural groups represented, as the king and queen travel to a faraway land with unknown inhabitants. This story is a great way to introduce the idea of adoption.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A made up folk tale/fairy tale based on a traditional Asian belief provides the basis for a story of a King and a Queen who must find the source of the red threads tugging on their hearts. It leads them on a long journey, and ends in a surprising place.

This is a sweet adoption story that can help families talk about what led them in reality to their forever match. Especially recommended for families who have adopted from Asia, but really any adopted family could use it.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure that I liked this. Was the beginning talking about infertility? That's a very painful subject that probably doesn't need to be talked about in a children's picture book. And the way the couple found the baby but there was no birth mother and they were just told "this is your baby" just didn't seem quite right to me. Adoption is a pretty serious thing, and this book was kind of confusing.

[Hannah Dull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Traditional
Grade Level: P-3

I really loved this book. It told a beautiful story of adoption. It also had some diverse characteristics in it giving it another layer. I also thought the illustrations were done very well. It seems to be a great book that I could see myself wanting to use in my classroom someday.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was a sweet story! A king and queen have a pain in their heart. A peddler gives them glasses so they can see a red thread coming from their hearts. They follow the red thread until they reach a baby. They adopt the baby and lived happily ever after!
I could see the book being useful for parents who have adopted their child.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Traditional Literature
Recommended Grade Level: Early Primary/ Primary

Based off an ancient Chinese belief, this book would be a perfect addition to any classroom as it shows that families can not only be formed in different ways, but also that they can look very different.

[Shark · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The book was about a red thread. It was coming from their heart. My favorite part was at the very, very end when they returned to the kingdom. I liked this book because it had the red thread in it."
-- from a preschooler

[Rebecca Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet tale! Great for teaching adopted children about their history (or even non-adopted children about adoption, should your family be called to it!)

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most beautiful story!

[Jennisen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this story. We followed the red thread to our son, too, feeling him tug at our hearts without knowing where he was. Beautifully told!

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute picture book. I loved seeing this concept in picture book form. It really warmed my heart ❤️

[Louanne Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of our girls favorite picture books. They are all from China and this is the most precious telling of what parents go through to adopt and how deeply they love their children.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a queen and king who follow the red threads coming from their hearts across the sea to another land (where they speak another language) and find the threads tied to a baby.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pull of the red thread leads the king and queen to their baby.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite authors. I love this legend.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a child and it is personal to me and might be personal for other students in the future.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet and tender way to share an international adoption story. I loved it.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite children’s books of all time. I’ve read it too many times to count. And it’s hard to read without crying.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely, endearing picture book. Fantastic for anyone, perfect for a family with adoptees.

[Mel Bev · Rating 1 out of 5]

Propaganda lol. In all seriousness, it centers adoption around the parents rather than the child. “Fairy Tale” is apt.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the "Adopted-From-China" specials.