The Invisible String Backpack

PreS-Gr 2–Class is back in session with this companion book to The Invisible String. Mila, a young tan-skinned girl with brown hair, is full of worries on her first day at a new school. Momma assures Mila that if she misses Daddy or her, she only needs to tug the Invisible String connecting them, and they’ll tug back. On the bus ride to school, Mila’s older brother clues her in on the Invisible Backpack she unknowingly carries with her. It contains an array of invisible gear to aid her in any situation she may face: a microphone for confidence, a shield for strength, a whistle for courage, and many others. Unfortunately, the dizzying number of tools in the pack paired with excessive explanatory dialogue weighs down Mila’s first day of school. With each new item introduced, focus is diverted and significance is siphoned from the previous tools, resulting in a pile of invisible clutter that young readers will lose track of before their own first day of school. Nonetheless, Lew-Vriethoff’s digital cartoon illustrations are vibrant, energized by currents of color and curved fluid line work. The visual movement and enchanting imagery tie perfectly into the theme of finding the magic in unseen strength.