Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/15/2020 It’s the first day of kindergarten, and Musa is skeptical when his teacher tells the children to look around at the faces in the room, as they “will become your closest friends this year.” Musa sits with Moises, Mo, and Kevin, who are all just as dubious. The teacher’s plan for them is to share their favorite day of the year and celebrate it with the class. Musa and his mother decorate the classroom for Eid and tell everyone what it’s all about. Mo goes next, sharing honey-dipped apples and challah for Rosh Hashanah. Moises shares about Las Posadas, and Kevin’s scientific family celebrates Pi Day—with pie, of course. An abundance of skin tones, body types, and facial features adds to the diversity in this vibrantly colorful, happy book. At the end of a year of celebrations, Musa admits that his teacher was right—and he has the memories and friendships to prove it. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.

Booklist - 04/15/2020 It’s the first day of kindergarten, and Musa is skeptical when his teacher tells the children to look around at the faces in the room, as they “will become your closest friends this year.” Musa sits with Moises, Mo, and Kevin, who are all just as dubious. The teacher’s plan for them is to share their favorite day of the year and celebrate it with the class. Musa and his mother decorate the classroom for Eid and tell everyone what it’s all about. Mo goes next, sharing honey-dipped apples and challah for Rosh Hashanah. Moises shares about Las Posadas, and Kevin’s scientific family celebrates Pi Day—with pie, of course. An abundance of skin tones, body types, and facial features adds to the diversity in this vibrantly colorful, happy book. At the end of a year of celebrations, Musa admits that his teacher was right—and he has the memories and friendships to prove it. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 05/01/2020 PreS-Gr 4—On the first day of kindergarten, Musa is surprised to hear from his new teacher that he will become good friends with the children in his class. She knows what she's talking about, structuring her classroom to embrace the differences among all students. One way the children become closer is by sharing their favorite day of the year. Each child believes his or her favorite day is the most special, but everyone is willing to learn about another culture, the associated foods, and the special traditions--all while sharing in the joy their classmate feels for the day. Musa explains why his favorite day is the Muslim holiday of Eid Mubarak, while Mo shares why he loves Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Moises celebrates the nine days of Las Posadas for his Christmas tradition, while Kevin talks about his family's love of science and their celebration of Pi Day, when his family learns about scientists and their discoveries. The celebrations profiled in the book are less about religion than family traditions and connections, and the year concludes with the teacher showcasing all these favorite days in calendars she passes out to the class. Colorful, charming illustrations show a diverse classroom where learning is thoughtful but also energetic and filled with music, dancing, and eating. VERDICT A comforting story that will help build bridges among children of different backgrounds and faiths. —Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, Hillsborough, CA - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.