Growing Up & Facts of Life
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The Invisible String
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
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
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
"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
Readers Top Reviews
ACRebeccaK Wcarla al
Nice concept but no good if not religious as it has reference to "heaven", also American so says mommy rather than mummy and "she sure does" americanisms. Was expecting better given the reviews. Also not ideal if you follow gentle parenting ideas as she tells the twins to go back to bed even though they're scared.
Kala Nicole Carter
I'm so disappointed! I've read The Invisible String many times in my work as a therapist, finally purchasing my own copy for my office. I read my copy of the book today for the first time only to discover that it's missing the words "no one is ever alone" on the last page! I actually prefer the illustrations in the paperback version that I bought, and find that the simplicity of the story makes it applicable for children dealing with grief as well as those struggling with separation anxiety and other issues. My only complaint is that the book I purchased is incomplete.
Jan
As a special education teacher the creator of a website to comfort anxious children, I find Patrice's book to be a soothing story which addresses separation anxiety and separation due to loss. The image of an Invisible String which connects us to those we love, whether separated by distance, divorce, deployment or even death, is comforting to all readers, children and adults.
Amanda
My daughter is five and she is always asking me about death and dying. I’m not sick or anything but she is very curious. I have to say it scares me when she asks and I tell her no matter what even in death I will always be with her even if I am not physically with her. I read so many mixed reviews but I bought this book and I read it to Rachel, then we read it again and it wasn’t until last night when she told me how much she loved the invisible string and asked me to wrap it around her and then she told me she was taking the invisible string to school with her today that I realized how very special and beautiful this book is to a child. This book is absolutely a gift to any child.
WDEJG's MomKaren Lud
I was actually disappointed in this book after a few years of people recommending it. I had hoped to add it to my collection of grief books for children and have it blow me away because I kept hearing such great things about it. Some things are great about it, but if I had flipped through it in a store, I don't think I would have bought it. It's incredibly important to me that children's feelings are acknowledged, allowed, and assured that their feelings are normal, healthy to express, and that we value their rights to feel them. It's also important to me that children know they have an adult in their life that they can go to for help, to feel safe, that can handle their big emotions, and just to be there for them if they need them. The first pages of this book immediately belittle, ignore, and tell the kids it's not OK to feel scared during a thunderstorm (it's just a thunderstorm, it's nothing to be scared of - um, I'm mid 30's and thunder still scares me!) and that they shouldn't go to their mom when they're scared, instead relying on this invisible string connection. I would have loved to see the mom acknowledge their feelings as acceptable and introduced the invisible string as a way to help them when they truly can't get to her as a reminder that they're connected always, even when they can't be together. Instead, it came across as not wanting them to come to her for something as silly as fear of thunder. It was just disappointing and made me feel sad for the kids. If you want that invisible connection when you aren't there, you gotta work on the actual connection first! In case anyone is curious, there is a mention of an uncle that died and is in heaven, so keep that in mind. I was surprised by that only because people consistently told me the book isn't about grief/connection to the dead. I actually took so long to buy it because it wasn't a book for grief around a death and those are the types of books I need. But I did I buy this book to help a 7 year old with the murder of her previous kindergarten teacher. I loved the idea of this to help her deal with this horrific death and help her sweet little heart heal a little, but I would hate for her to get the idea that fears or other feelings shouldn't be expressed or that she shouldn't seek out help from trusted adults so I haven't let her borrow it yet. Darn those pesky few beginning pages!!!! If those weren't in it, I would like this book a lot more. The sentiment is absolutely beautiful, but the delivery was unfortunately not so great.
