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Mika's Incredible Thread



Dear Mika Enjoy exploring your Incredible Thread. And remember, we love all the special things that make you, You.







In an ordinary place, in an ordinary room, in an ordinary bed, a girl wakes up. She knows at once that something is different. On the floor beside her bed, she sees a dusty old book. It has no name, but beneath its cover peeks a bookmark, the colorful strands twisting and weaving into a bright rainbow thread.

Opening the book, she discovers an old map At first it seems like an ordinary sort of map. There are forests and rivers, deserts and oceans. Then a wind ruffles her hair, and a ship sails across the page.

Beside the map she finds a note with her name. Mika Mika takes hold of the colorful thread and is lifted like a balloon into the book.



Mika arrives at a farm in England. \"Today is the royal parade,\" he explains, \"and the horses are ready to march. But I cannot get them to the castle. \"Good day to you, Mika. Welcome to my stables. I'm The bridge has washed away!\" Edgar the farrier and I look after the Queen's horses.\" Edgar shows Mika a metal shoe he is fixing to the horse's hoof.

Mika looks at the river Edgar needs to cross. \"If you can't get there by road, can you go by boat?\" she asks. \"A jolly good idea,\" cries Edgar. \"We can use the old canals. Would you be so kind as to help me put the horses on a barge?\" As they punt up waterways and sweep past weeping willows, Edgar tells stories of his grandfather Ned who built the old canals.

When they reach the castle gates, the horses neigh with joy. Then the colorful thread appears in the sky. \"The time has come to continue on your journey,\" Edgar says. \"But remember, English strength is within you.\" Mika waves goodbye. Then, looking up at the cloudy sky, she reaches for the colorful thread...



Mika arrives in a forest in Germany. \"Guten Tag, Mika. Welcome to my workshop. I'm Herbert the clockmaker, and you're right on time. I'm known for making the finest clocks in the Black Forest. But the villagers are always late no matter how many clocks I make. We must find a way to help them be on time.\"

Together they set off across the valley past pines and spruce trees where cuckoo birds call. \"The cuckoo bird's song means spring has come,\" Herbert says. \"That's how the villagers know it's time to plant rye and barley.\" Mika listens to the funny little cuckoo. \"Its song is like a clock chime,\" she says. Herbert's face stretches into a smile. \"Bärig! You've given me an idea,\" he cries. \"The villagers need to hear the time. I will make a clock that chimes!\"

As Herbert sets to work on the new cuckoo clock, the colorful thread floats down through the forest. \"The time has come to continue on your journey,\" Herbert says. \"But remember, German creativity is within you.\" Mika waves goodbye. Then, looking up at the clear spring sky, she reaches for the colorful thread...



Mika arrives in a field in Ireland. \"Dia duit, Mika. It's grand to see you. I'm Pádraig the poet, and I have a knack for rhyme. My poems spread cheer throughout the Emerald Isle. But today I've lost my Irish wit. Will you help me find it?\"

Together they set off across the village green past rolling fields of clover fresh with afternoon rain. Mika hears a fiddle and her legs begin to jig. Pádraig's eyes begin to twinkle, then he clicks his fingers and says, There once was a wee lass so clever She succeeded at every endeavor Like touching her toes With the tip of her nose Her Irish luck stretched on forever. \"A limerick. I've found my Irish wit!\" Pádraig cries.

As the fiddle plays a Celtic jig, the colorful thread appears overhead. \"The time has come to continue on your journey,\" Pádraig says. \"But the luck of the Irish will go with you.\" Mika waves goodbye. Then, looking up at the pale blue sky, she reaches for the colorful thread...



Mika arrives on a mountaintop in South America. \"Allillanchu Mika, welcome. My name is Roca. Today I am traveling the Great Inka Road with my pack of llamas, who are carrying precious cargo. We must cross a gorge spanned by a strong rope bridge. But my llama, Sami, is scared of heights. Will you help me guide him?\"

Together they set off to the woven grass bridge hand-built by Inka engineers. \"There are things I'm scared of,\" Mika says. \"But it helps if I face my fears, step by step. \"That's right,\" smiles Roca, stroking Sami's head. \"Bravery is doing something even though you're scared.\" Mika leads Sami across the swaying bridge, one step at a time, without looking down.

\"You did it, Sami!\" Mika cries when they reach the other side. Then the colorful thread swoops down through the gorge. \"The time has come to continue on your journey,\" Roca says. \"But remember, bravery is found within you.\" Mika waves goodbye. Then, looking up at the sweeping sky, she reaches for the colorful thread...



Mika arrives on a ship off the Iberian Peninsula. \"Hola Mika, and bom dia! Warm greetings in Spanish and Portuguese. I'm Álvaro the explorer and I sail the high seas. Like my ancestors before me, I love grand adventures and making new discoveries. But today I'm not feeling right. There is a dull ache in my chest. Perhaps you can help me discover what this feeling is?\"

As they sail through stormy weather, Mika thinks of Álvaro's life at sea, so far from home and family. \"I think I know what the feeling is. You're homesick.\" Mika says. \"Sí, of course,\" Álvaro beams. \"A trip home is what my heart needs. Will you take the tiller and sail there with me?\"

Soon the storm clouds disappear and the scent of sweet orange blossoms floats through the air. \"Land ahoy!\" cheers Álvaro, sighting the coast. \"Exploring is marvelous, but there's no place like home.\" As they sail into the sunny port, the colorful thread sweeps down through the sky. \"The time has come to continue on your journey,\" Álvaro says. \"But the spark of discovery is within you.\" Mika waves goodbye. Then, looking up at the endless sky, she reaches for the colorful thread...



Mika arrives back in her ordinary room. But she knows something is different. She thinks of the places she visited and the friends she made, and how they are all a special part of her. She looks down at the book that took her on such incredible adventures. It has a name!

Byal whocameSbteoforreyMika's