The Story of Silk: From Worm Spit to Woven Scarves    by Richard Sobol Order:  USA  Can Candlewick, 2012 (2012) Hardcover     Reviewed by Bob Walch Using his camera to document every step of the process, Richard Sobol begins with the mulberry harvest that provides the silkworms with their favorite food and the collecting of the cocoons that follows. He then shows how the cleaned cocoons are simmered in hot water to loosen up the thin, strong thread. The next step in the labor intensive process is collecting the thread and dyeing it before it can be used in weaving cloth. Finally, the cloth is then fashioned into beautiful garments. Set in Thailand, this first person narrative details each of the steps from field to finished product and explains why silk is such a sought after textile. Children seven and older will find this a very useful book for not only general information but also to use when researching a report on silk and natural fabrics. The photography, which usually includes children in the background or involved in the silk making process, will appeal to youngsters who will quickly realize that in some cultures young people contribute to earning the family livelihood at a very early age. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews