The Story of Silk

What does worm spit have to do with the world’s most luxurious fabric? Travel to Thailand for a close-up look at wrigglers, weavers, and wearers of silk.

Join author and photographer Richard Sobol as he picks up his camera once more and travels to a small village in Thailand for an in-depth exploration of the story of silk and the labor-intensive process of making it. From nurturing the silkworms to weaving the fabric and photographing the children as they proudly model the finished product, this first-person narrative, illustrated with richly detailed photographs, chronicles the amazing process of creating one of history’s most desired textiles.
Back matter includes a glossary and further information.
Crisp, bright photographs and a simple, personal narrative create a remarkably informative look at the process of silk production in a Thai village.
—Kirkus Reviews

Readers will be surprised and entranced by the origins of this ubiquitous fabric.
—Publishers Weekly

The book is attractively designed, open and uncluttered, with a fine balance of text and color photos.
—Booklist

Silk boasts an attractive format, a clearly written text, and excellent photography, and it offers a fascinating glimpse of the Thai people and their unique industry. It will also serve as a fine companion volume to The Life of Rice.
—School Library Journal

Who knew a book about worm spit could be so interesting!
—The Horn BookRichard Sobol, an author and award-winning photographer, is the creator of the Traveling Photographer series of children's books. When not traveling, he is home in Massachusetts with his family.