The Line in the Sand
by Thao Lam (Author)
Critically acclaimed creator Thao Lam, author of The Paper Boat and THAO, is back with a wordless story about conflict resolution
A monster meanders down a beach, dragging a stick behind them and leaving a line in the sand. Meanwhile, a group of friends is at play--flying kites, building sandcastles, tossing a ball--until two of them become curious about the line that now seemingly divides them.
What does the line mean? Tensions mount as the two ponder the situation. Should the line be crossed? Can it be crossed? Eyes narrow, feathers get ruffled, and a scuffle starts, stemming from a series of misunderstandings and aggravated by the innocent, and very untimely, arrival of a bee. It's only when their stomping and kicking has completely erased the line in the sand that the friends realize their scrabble was senseless. They rejoin the others at play, where the line becomes part of their games, while in the background, the line's creator continues to meander across the page, oblivious to the impact of their actions. This powerful wordless story, told in panels and illustrated in striking collage art, is at once simple, relatable, and profound and will encourage readers to think about conflict, communication, and the meaning of the lines we all draw, whether intentional or not.
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Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal
K-Gr 3—This wordless picture book begins with a stick on the beach. A monster finds it and drags it along, leaving behind a line in the sand. Meanwhile, another group of monsters play, and when two among them, one on either side, notice the line, they become curious. Tension builds and emotions rise as the two engage. Just when those two seem more divided than ever, a bee sends the pair jumping through the sand and the line is erased. Without the arbitrary line separating them, they dissolve into laughter and join the other monsters at play. The concept is clever and the playful art a delight. The wordless format emphasizes how a lack of communication (or miscommunication) can contribute to conflict and leaves a lot of room for interpretation and discussion. The digital collage illustrations combine bold colors, prints, and patterns and give readers plenty of details to notice and visuals to explore—including the view of that very first monster continuing to draw lines with its stick in the background. VERDICT Another wordless winner from Lam, who knows how to posit questions and trust readers for answers. Recommended for all collections.—Lauren Strohecker
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV039050 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emotions & Feelings
JUV051000 - Juvenile Fiction | Imagination & Play
Friendship
Picture books
Communication
Boundaries
