João by a Thread

by Roger Mello, Daniel Hahn (Translator)

As João tucks under a lovingly woven quilt, he asks himself: So it’s just me now? He curls up, getting cozy in bed, and soon the world of his dreams unspools on the page. The blanket in his bed unravels into deep rivers, lakes, valleys, reservoirs, mountain ranges, fishing nets full of tadpoles and gaping holes, until what’s left is just one long thread. When he feels alone and scared in the dark, João “sews words like patchwork” into a new blanket to cover himself up. He weaves the threads of his quilt until they form one long sentence, and soon, the nighttime is peppered with his own silvery, slippery words. Roger Mello draws like a shapeshifter – to look at his illustrations is always to see something you missed before (a stingray, a crescent moon nestled into the palm of João’s hand). His breathtaking line drawings, beaming in white thread against deep red, combined with poetic and bewildered language, make João by a Thread a book to take into bed at the edge of sleep, just before you start to dream.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Brazil, Poetry, Art, International

56 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Roger Mello é ilustrador, escritor e dramaturgo. Nasceu em Brasília, em 1965. É
considerado hors-concours pela Fundação Nacional do Livro Infantil e Juvenil, que já lhe concedeu premiado pela Academia Brasileira de Letras e pela União Brasileira dos Escritores — nesta instituição, pelo conjunto de sua obra. Participou de diversas feiras internacionais de livros. Seu livro "Meninos do mangue" recebeu em 2002 o prêmio internacional na categoria melhor livro infantil da Fondation Espace Enfants, na Suíça. Três de seus livros — "A flor do lado de lá", "Todo cuidado é pouco!" e "Meninos do mangue" — constaram da “lista de livros que toda criança deve ler antes de virar adulto”, publicada pela Folha de S. Paulo em 2007.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A boy moves under his blanket - and it becomes the landscape he is connected with. Valleys and mountains - as he moves it changes. A metaphor for safety (blanket), connectedness to home (landscape) and change (movement). Wonderfully 'quilted' look to the art. Children will enjoy this book without getting the deeper meanings.

[Jessica Gard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joao is going to sleep, and begins to imagine all the things his blanket could cover if it was big enough.

The red, white, and black illustrations of the many blankets that Joao imagines are integrated pieces of the story telling, and I really did love the ending result of the story itself being threaded together.

Simply put, this story is beautifully illustrated and as an adult I really did enjoy everything about it. On the other hand, though I found the translation to be a bit clunky and hard to follow for a younger reader.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are gorgeous, but the text adds so little that I would have been happier without it.

Received via NetGalley.

[Ainun Zahra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Netgalley for the ARC!❤️

Considering the book is labelled as Children's Fiction, I expected it to be a bit childish but the narration has surprising depth. It's eloquently written and I love the creativity behind the plot. It's perfect for kids aged 8-9 years. Might be hard for someone younger to interpret the meaning. Recommended!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this beautifully illustrated picture book, João, an abstract figure depicted in black or white, lies in bed, contemplating his solitude: “So it’s just me now, alone with myself?” His thoughts are woven into the fabric of his homemade blanket, which transforms into a tapestry of his inner world as he drifts to sleep.

The narrative explores João's journey from wakefulness to the realm of dreams. The blanket, initially a comforting presence, becomes a dynamic landscape where threads morph into rivers, lakes, valleys, and even fishing nets. The illustrations, executed in a stark palette of red, black, and white, are intricate and mesmerizing, with the blanket's design shifting to reflect João's subconscious wanderings.

A poignant moment occurs when João questions the unraveling of his blanket, symbolizing perhaps an unraveling of his fears or the shedding of daytime concerns. His response is both creative and poetic; he sews together words into a "word-blanket," demonstrating the power of language to comfort and create.

Set against lakes of striking deep red and black, the threads of the blanket weave and stretch into different shapes and symbols, echoing Mello’s whimsical text translated by Hahn. This Brazilian import invites readers to ponder the scenarios it casts (and those it does not), creating a space for personal interpretation and reflection.

The book is a masterclass in visual storytelling, where illustrations are not mere complements but essential narratives in their own right. They invite the reader to look closer, to find hidden details like a stingray or a crescent moon nestled in João's palm. The language, too, plays with proportions, enhancing the dreamlike quality of the experience.

A moody, ingenious masterstroke that resonates with both young and old, urging readers to embrace the magic and the mystery of the night, of dreams, and of the stories we tell ourselves when we're alone with our thoughts.

[Jenn Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the kind of picture book that is wonderfully creative and like a piece of art, but I question the appeal for a lot of children.
The images are simple black, white, and mostly red. The words are lyrical and full of metaphor. Not one I would recommend for a story time, but maybe something that could work with slightly older kids learning about poetry/literary devices.

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

João by a Thread will sweep you away. Readers accompany little João to bed, where he picks at his blanket and lets his mind drift until it is unclear if he is dreaming or wondering. João's blanket becomes the landscape upon which our adventure in the liminal space between sleep and wakefulness plays out. Exquisite line drawings in red, black, and white enhance the surreal feeling while uncertainty that pervades the story. After the book is closed, rapt readers will wonder themselves, was that a dream or did he really go on a fantastical journey? Mello and Hahn succeed in evoking the feeling one has upon waking from a dream that felt so real.

I read this to a young family friend, and she was absorbed during the reading and wanted to know, "Wait, what? Did it happen? Was he sleeping?" at the end. I love a book that leaves the reader theorizing and questioning! João by a Thread is a journey worth taking.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023 ALA Mildred Batchelder honor book to Brazilian author Roger Melli, translated by Daniel Hahn

Exquisite lace/net/blankets filled with intricate images and finally words are created totally in red, white and black. João by a Thread tells the story of a boy, all alone, asks the questions via intricate and ever changing images created in delicate lace, telling of the land, mountains, earthquakes, waterways, longing, wishing for safety, fear of the giant., needing to be covered to sleep. He sees together words to create a lullaby, award blanket that will cover João.
What an intriguing, fascinating, creative book. Absolutely exquisite imagery.

[Angie Counsell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this as I have seen some amazing books using 3 colors and limited text with amazing drawings, but this book missed the mark. The illustrations were interesting with the different aspects of the blanket, and I enjoyed looking for the hidden pictures in the blankets, but the text didn't add a thing to the story - really it just detracted and took your away from the artwork. Once we got into the words portion of the story, I just wanted it to be over.

I read another review that called this a pretentious picture book and I couldn't agree more. Pass for me!

[Kati Bowden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredibly beautiful and intricate artwork, I feel I could stare all day. The story took a moment to catch me up, and perhaps part of the core is lost in translation, but I gathered what I needed by the end. Fascinating balance between words and pictures (or lack thereof) and bold, impressive use of a limited pallet. This may be a bedtime story for kids ready to drift off, as there isn’t really a linear story so much as a peaceful exploration of sleep, dreams, and adventure in the night.

[Skylar Higgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little more complicated for me to understand. What I got from reading this book was that nightmares can be turned into a wonderful dream. I wasn’t a huge fan of this book, but I think it’s because it was hard for me to wrap my head around. If I were to use this book in my classroom, I would use it in connection to the culture it comes from. In the back of the book, it says the author grew up in the Brazilian Savannah.

[Theediscerning · Rating 1 out of 5]

Suffice to say the under-ten year old me, in the target audience for this, would have hated it. And the adult me, even considering the length of the work and line in the illustrations, thinks little better. One to give a broad pass to, in my mind – unless the more pretentious picture book is your thing.

[Abbigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

The trippiest bedtime picture book I have read to date. This is definitely a picture book for older kids. Although this book has text, this would be a great book for kids who are really into wordless picture books because there is so much going on in the illustrations throughout the book- a lot to parse out. An incredibly unique and beautiful, but also unnerving and confounding, picture book.

[Annaliese · Rating 4 out of 5]

"And if the fear spills over, is it João who's turning on the faucet?"

This is a beautifully imagined book with striking visuals and lovely prose to think on. I loved watching the lace of the blanket change as he imagines new settings and situations.

[Andrew Gallegos · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text is beautiful. The illustrations are thought-provoking and made me take more time to appreciate them. Due to how much I enjoyed this from an adult perspective, I'm unsure of the appeal for young kids.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

When João gets into bed, his imagination takes hold picturing the blanket threads going on and on and being made up of whatever he thinks of. Weird, imaginative story that makes you wonder in the way your brain does at night or when you are spacing out. From Brazil.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

An innovative and evocative picture book that was more engaging to me as an adult reader than to my young kids.

[Maughn Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a lovely little picture book, however it may be better enjoyed by adults rather than children

[Mr. Johansson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like incredibly intricate art that tells a story, this book is for you!

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very pretty 2-color illustrations. Kind of existential, like most Batchelder awards.

Read for Librarian Book Group

[Y.Poston]

a beautiful hommage to stories, books & words

[stillme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batchelder Honor 2023
ALA ALSC Notable 2023

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sounds like a book of poetry. But I’m not sure what the story is taking you interesting book.

[Kate McCartney · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023 YMA Mildred Batchelder award honor

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Translated by Daniel Hahn.

An unusual book, about threads connecting a blanket, as words connecting ideas, people. thoughts in a book.

[BaSila Husnain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know about you guys, I love dreamy surreal children's books 📚

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 5 out of 5]

International artist, Roger Mello, a Portuguese illustrator and 2014 winner of the Hans Christian Andersen award, 2018 Batchelder honor award-winner, has created a haunting story of a young boy's night terrors, perhaps following a natural disaster. João wakes at night wondering, "So it's just me now?" From there, his imagination wanders, under the safety of his blanket, to wild imaginings. His fear, loneliness, angst palpable as his blanket and world unravel; João takes things into his hands and reweaves an unraveled blanket returning somewhat to a sense of safety and security. The pallet of black-and-white on red background focuses readers' attention on the blanket, João sometimes hidden, sometimes industrious, sometimes prominent.
The book is pure red throughout. The characters and actions in black and white are set upon a vivid red background. Mello's unique style uses the textile of a single blanket whose threads unravel, change shapes, provide an imaginary pallet for João as he faces universal unknown night time fears. The threads give a three-dimensionality as João's thoughts mix with his dreams in a Sendak-Maxist scenario whereby João, alone, comes to terms with, and faces, his nighttime fears, finally sewing his [dismantled] blanket back together with the power of words.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title is a translation published in 2022 in the USA, the book does not state the year it was published elsewhere, the author is from Brazil, so possibly it was published there. While it is a picture book format printed on solid red and a few solid black pages with the with the blanket/coverlet rendered in white and sometimes black ink as well as both black and white sometimes. Personally I would recommend this title for adults who are interested in the symbolic meaning of what a blanket/coverlet means to humans as various events occur in their lives.

[Mesembryanthemum · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a jewel of a book. The pictures are magical and the words are perfect. I chose to read the ebook first, but now I need the print version. For myself, of course, but more importantly as a gift for any child I meet who has a lacemaker, crocheter, knitter, sewist, or other thread crafter in their life. Or, really, any child who needs to fall asleep in a room alone.

My thanks to the Minneapolis/Hennepin County Library for providing this ebook as a loan. I love my public library.