Publishers Weekly Review
| This nonfiction picture book by a Lithuanian artist opens as a grandmother and her granddaughter are seen on a riverbank. When the granddaughter poses the question of the title, the answers multiply, each becoming the subject of its own thoughtful, richly worked spread. "The River Is a Thread" describes the gifts rivers offer: "They take us on breathtaking voyages of discovery, soothe with their coolness, bring us together." A spread called "A River Is Home" catalogs wildlife found in the world's rivers; "A River Is Energy" tells how the roar of South America's Guairá Falls was silenced by a dam. Pencil and mixed-media vignettes have a childlike feel that is elaborated in intricate detail. Readers come away with a sense of the wealth and strength of rivers through Vaicenavicˇiene·'s story, which twists and wanders like a river itself. Ages 4--8. (Mar.) |
School Library Journal Review
| Gr 3--5--A teenage girl walks with her grandmother to a nearby river. The granddaughter wants to make a wreath of flowers and leaves; Grandma plans to complete an embroidered tablecloth. "Grandma, what is a river?" the girl asks. "A river is a thread," her grandma says. "It embroiders our world with beautiful patterns." Illustrations show grass and weed-covered riverbanks, many with sketchbooklike ink or pencil line drawings. The headings on each page use words that describe rivers as sources of refuge, reflection, and movement. Grandma mentions rivers located in other countries and continents (the Amazon in South America; the Pearl River Delta in China). As they leave the riverbank, the girl places her wreath into the river, with a small wave. The grandmother and her granddaughter are drawn with light skin. The end papers depict Grandma's tablecloth, heavily embroidered with the day's lesson. VERDICT A fascinating introduction to rivers that could inspire kids to learn more.--Susan Scheps, formerly at Shaker P.L., OH |
Booklist Review
| The curious little girl narrator and her grandmother while away time at a riverbank in Vaicenavičienė's dreamy look at rivers and their significance to the world, in this picture book for older readers translated from Swedish. Grandma embroiders a tablecloth, and the girl collects flowers, when she asks, "What is a river?" The answers, one per double-page spread, explain many aspects of rivers, not only in the context of their features but also in a way that emphasizes our interconnectedness with nature. A river is a thread connecting people and places, says Grandma; a journey, a home, and much more. Each minilesson explains facts about rivers--for example, how deltas are created, which animals are nourished by the waterways, and how ancient Greeks thought that the world was encircled by one great river. These facts are beautifully illustrated and complemented by multimedia paintings and drawings, rendered in plenty of exquisite blues, of people, animals, plants, and more that sustain and are sustained by rivers. A book that can create a bedtime reverie and be used for nature study is a lovely find. Young readers might need assistance with this, as the handwriting-style font could be tricky for some to decipher, but otherwise this is a richly multifaceted title that school and public librarians will do well to booktalk. |
Horn Book Review
| This Swedish import, extensive in scope, explores the meaning of rivers by taking a multifaceted and impressionistic look at their function and symbolism across the world and throughout history. The narrative is framed by a fictional child and grandmother at a river (the two function as the book's visual through line) and provides lyrical commentary and factual information on each spread. The inquisitive, contemplative child asks Grandma what a river is, and the response is layered. She explains the nature of rivers in ways geographical and topographical, ecological, linguistic, sociological, historical, industrial, personal, and more. Sprawling spreads feature delicate, intricate drawings; detailed, earth-toned paintings in relaxed lines; and a font that mimics handwriting. The grandmother's responses cover a wide ground, identifying the creatures whose lives are sustained by rivers and, toward the close, briefly acknowledging the ways in which humans are polluting them. Many of her responses are evocative ("A river is a smell"), and some honor their lore: one spread pays tribute to mermaids and other "secrets" of rivers, and the following spread acknowledges "a magical underground river called Lethe." This thought-provoking book is a compelling conversation starter for young readers. Julie Danielson July/August 2021 p.146(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
Kirkus Review
| Sitting by the banks of a river, a child asks their grandmother the titular question. What follows is an exploration of the seemingly simple question. The deceptively straightforward title of this book can lead readers to believe it will be a bland recitation of facts, mainly involving geographical locations, volumes of water, and lengths. It is, in fact, a broad and holistic approach that seamlessly weaves together geographical, sociological, historical, scientific, religious, industrial, and environmental information, concepts, and observations. All of this is delivered in lyrical language that is poetic at times. The book is reminiscent of an artist's diary, with type that has a handwritten feel and artwork that is fully fleshed out interspersed with simple pencil sketches. The beautiful, softly colored illustrations offer plenty of details and asides that invite readers to further explore the pages. Strategically placed questions offer even more opportunities for readers to get immersed in the book--and to come away with a better understanding of the complexity and importance of a river in our shared world. Readers may never look at a river the same way again. Both grandmother and grandchild present White. Originally published in Swedish as Vad är en flod? The book has won multiple international awards, including being chosen for the Illustrator's Exhibition of Bologna Children's Book Fair 2018. A beautiful, thoughtful, and thought-provoking book. (Informational picture book. 5-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
