"I sympathize, Bard," murmured Curtis politely. "But, frankly, I think that you've landed quite lightly, While I am, I think, at the end of my thread. If I am and I fall, I'm afraid I'll be-." The toy box has erupted and the toys are perched high, dangling low, hanging by a thread. Bard, the old bear, has been lucky enough to land in the underwear drawer and from there is able to assist his friends, if only they will follow his daring directions. By a Thread is about heroism in small places, all the different kinds of courage a child can draw upon. The text rhymes, and its rhythm takes the tongue on a rollicking ride. Even the most determined reader will not be able to read the story silently. Primarily a playwright, Ned Dickens lives a life filled with adventure. He has twice raised the money to buy a vehicle and drive it to Nicaragua to donate to development projects. He has been a special education teacher and has done theater with street kids. By a Thread is one of several stories about Beo (who takes her name from Beowulf). The collection Beo's Bedroom is about to become an animated series. By a Threadwill be one of the first episodes. Graham Ross is thinking of joining the circus so he can learn to swing by a thread like Bard. His daughter, Olivia, was the model for Beo. The illustrations were rendered in acrylic, with collage and watercolor pencil, on gessoed watercolor paper. Graham lives with his family, including another model for the book, their gray and white cat, Dakota. This is Graham's first picturebook, and he recommends the occupation highly. "Kids," he says, "try this at home "