The Invisible String

by Patrice Karst, Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (Illustrator)

Overview

With over a million copies sold, this accessible, bestselling picture book phenomenon about the unbreakable connections between loved ones has healed a generation of readers—children and adults alike—and has been updated with new illustrations and an afterword from the author. Also available: Spanish edition (El hilo invisible) and a companion workbook (The Invisible String Workbook).

Parents, educators, therapists, and social workers alike have declared The Invisible String the perfect tool for coping with all kinds of separation anxiety, loss, and grief. In this relatable and reassuring contemporary classic, a mother tells her two children that they're all connected by an invisible string. "That's impossible!" the children insist, but still they want to know more: "What kind of string?" The answer is the simple truth that binds us all: An Invisible String made of love. Even though you can't see it with your eyes, you can feel it deep in your heart, and know that you are always connected to the ones you love. Does everybody have an Invisible String? How far does it reach? Does it ever go away? This heartwarming picture book for all ages explores questions about the intangible yet unbreakable connections between us, and opens up deeper conversations about love.

Recommended and adopted by parenting blogs, bereavement support groups, hospice centers, foster care and social service agencies, military library services, church groups, and educators, The Invisible String offers a very simple approach to overcoming loneliness, separation, or loss with an imaginative twist that children easily understand and embrace, and delivers a particularly compelling message in today's uncertain times. This special paperback edition includes vibrant new illustrations and an introduction from the author.

"This book is a beautiful way to begin to try, as parents, to instill in children the impenetrable power of the heart, the energy of love, and the flow that can be felt from the grace in every moment." —Tony Robbins

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316486231
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	10/30/2018
Series:	Invisible String Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	328
Product dimensions:	9.80(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Patrice Karst is the bestselling author of The Invisible String, The Invisible Leash, The Invisible Web, You Are Never Alone: An Invisible String Lullaby, and co-author of The Invisible String Workbook. She has also written The Smile That Went Around the World. Patrice is passionate about spreading her message of love across the planet. Born in London, England, she now lives in Southern California, and is the mother of one grown son. She invites you to visit her online at patricekarst.com.


Joanne Lew-Vriethoff is the acclaimed illustrator of many children's books, including the new edition of The Invisible String, The Invisible Leash, The Invisible Web, You Are Never Alone: An Invisible String Lullaby, and the Invisible String Workbook, as well as Stacy McAnulty's Beautiful and Brave. Born in Malaysia, she grew up in Los Angeles, studied at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, and now lives in Amsterdam. Her website is joannelewvriethoff.com.

Editorial Reviews

"If I could only have one book to use for counseling purposes, this would be it. This book is extremely versatile. It can be used for any type of separation, loss."—United Way (Life Lessons for Little Ones)

"Delivers a particularly compelling message in today's uncertain times that though we may be separated from the ones we care for, love is the unending connection that binds us all."—The American Academy of Pediatrics

"Children of all ages (and yes, adults too!) feel a great sense of peace and joy realizing that we are all connected to the ones we love through The Invisible String."—The National Association of School Psychologists

"A wonderful storybook for children experiencing separation anxiety."—Today's Parent

"The Invisible String is part of my social skills/feelings book purchases.... Beautiful. Delicate. Perfect for: dealing with loss, moving, friendship issues, family problems, nighttime fears.... Quite the special book."—The Styling Librarian

"The message of The Invisible String resonates with children and adults alike.... The two ends of the treasured Invisible String are families and schools. This String, reinforced on each side, buoys students with love, guidance, direction. But when one end weakens, the entire String falters.... When we need support, reassurance, or simply a kindred spirit, just give the String a tug and someone will tug back. This is powerful, and will keep your child on track through...his or her education journey."—Carmen Fariña, Chancellor, NYC Department of Education

"[Promotes] a vision of global unity and empathy...effective."
—Kirkus

"Whether kids are having separation anxiety or dealing with divorce or even death, this sweet story is very reassuring."
—Motherly

From the Publisher

2018-09-30

A book aimed at easing separation anxiety and reinforcing bonds.

Twins Liza and Jeremy awaken during a thunderstorm and go to their mother for comfort. She reassures them that they're safe and says, "You know we're always together, no matter what," when they object to returning to bed. She then explains that when she was a child her mother told her about the titular "Invisible String," encouraging them to envision it as a link between them no matter what. "People who love each other are always connected by a very special String made of love," she tells them, reinforcing this idea as they proceed to imagine various scenarios, fantastic and otherwise, that might cause them to be separated in body. She also affirms that this string can "reach all the way to Uncle Brian in heaven" and that it doesn't go away if she's angry with them or when they have conflicts. As they go to bed, reassured, the children, who present white, imagine their friends and diverse people around the world connected with invisible strings, promoting a vision of global unity and empathy. While the writing often feels labored and needlessly repetitive, Lew-Vriethoff's playful cartoon art enhances and lightens the message-driven text, which was originally published in 2000 with illustrations by Geoff Stevenson.

Sentimental but effective. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews

The Invisible String is self-explanatory; it's a must-have for the bookshelves of anyone who enjoys reading a tale with a positive moral and practiced life lesson. The string can be the comfort children need to get over a divorce, a death, a loss of any kind - but it can also be the one thing that makes an adult feel better about the same situations. Instead of feeling disconnected due to travel, heartbreak, or physical loss, people who "feel" their invisible string are likely to experience a better understanding and firmer grasp on their emotions and the situation they're dealing with.

Best Reading for Kids

THE INVISIBLE STRING teaches kids how to deal with missing a parent by understanding that they are still connected to their parent via an invisible string. While not geared solely to military families, this touching book can help young children feel connected with deployed parents or other family members that are far away.

Military Family.Org

If I could only have one book to use for counseling purposes, this would be it. This book is extremely versatile. It can be used for any type of separation, loss. The premise of the book is that we are all connected by an invisible string. Even though it is invisible, you can feel it with your heart. Everyone has an invisible string, and it can reach anywhere, even heaven. The book's message is that no one is ever alone, even when their loved one is not physically present.

United Way-Life Lessons for Little Ones

The Invisible String is part of my social skills/feelings book purchases. This is a story about how twins realize there is an invisible string connecting all people who love one another… you can feel it in your heart and always be connected, even from afar. Beautiful. Delicate. Perfect for: dealing with loss, moving, friendship issues, family problems, nighttime fears… Quite the special book.

The Styling Librarian

A gentle and reassuring story of lifelong connectedness that can be very useful in dealing with the complicated issue of death and separation.

allParenting.com

A heartwarming story that reassures children that even though they can't always be with a loved one, they're always in each other's hearts.

PARENTS magazine