By a Thread

Britta Santowski is a freelance writer in Victoria.

When the toy box erupts, the ensuing “BOOM” blows out the bottom of
Beo’s bedroom floor leaving a huge bottomless pit. Bard the bear is
safely in the bed, but the others need to make it to safety. Curtis the
turtle is stuck hanging by a thread over the looming hole. But Bard soon
figures out a way to rescue Curtis, and by way of his own acts of
bravery, demonstrates that the others can be just as brave and leap to
their own safety.

This picture book delights on many levels. The story is told in rhyme,
with the font size, type, colour, direction, and pattern frequently
changing. Words climb mountains and spiral and dip. They SHOUT and
whisper and explode and crumble—in other words, they quite literally
dance across the page.

The illustrations are equally explosive, coming at the viewer from a
range of perspectives. Sometimes, the images are—like the toys
themselves—scattered among the words.

By a Thread is a challenging yet rewarding read. The changing fonts can
be fun and the burst of images will readily entertain both those who can
and cannot yet read. These complexities add layers to a book that will
eagerly be read and reread. Highly recommended.