Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 09/01/2014 Gr 3–4—The Pienkowski-Walser team exuberantly present eight dramatic Polish folktales featuring the violence, evil, and heroism characteristic of the genre. The stories are well told and paced, as heroes and villains face death, transmutation, and the devil. Tales include "The Fern Flower," "The Krakow Dragon," "The Frog Bride," "The Miller's Daughters," and "The Trumpeter of Krakow." Among the themes are the importance of unselfishness and love for family and homeland and the shame and dishonor of greediness and thoughtlessness. A thread of darkness runs through these unusual pieces, and Walser doesn't soften disturbing details and the occasional unhappy ending. The text is enhanced by the attractive illustrations, rendered in cut-paper collage and mixed media. The use of black silhouettes with bright colors on mostly white backgrounds lets the images pop. There is a pronunciation guide to help with the Polish vocabulary and forewords by Pienkowski and Walser, which reveal their folklore backgrounds and their approaches to the book. A solid addition to libraries where folktale collections circulate well.—Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 10/01/2014 Renowned illustrator Pienkowski adds a folk art flair to this collection of traditional Polish tales. In a clear, measured tone and vintage feel, Walser’s stories cover a broad range of narratives. A prince sets out to find a wife and ends up with a magical frog. A blacksmith’s apprentice uses ingenuity to rescue a princess trapped in a high castle. A young boy bravely takes over after his grandfather, the trumpeter of Krakow, is killed while warning the city of oncoming hordes of Tartars. As in classic folktales and fairy tales, bravery, cleverness, and goodness of heart take center stage. Pienkowski’s digitally enhanced cut-paper illustrations cover every page, and while they are sometimes uneven, their unusual blend of geometric shapes, bright colors, and stylized figures is eye-catching. In an introductory note, Walser explains his writing process, and Pienkowski describes his childhood in Poland, particularly the stirring early influence both traditional folktales and paper cutting had on his art. A much-needed pronunciation guide rounds out the collection. - Copyright 2014 Booklist.