Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 02/01/2026 K-Gr 5—Claire is in search of color, be it in art, music, or a rain puddle. She and her mother make their way to the entrance of the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris. The cathedral, beautifully illustrated in soaring lines that seem to reach for the heavens, fascinates but also bores Claire. She's far more interested in the musician out in front whose music brings color onto the scene. She finds herself mesmerized by the light that pours through the stained-glass windows and immerses her in color. She delights in the playfulness until a rainstorm steals the color away. Undaunted, she continues to search for the joy she experienced and eventually finds it in her surroundings and within herself. The illustrations, done in watercolors compiled digitally, are stunning with their ability to capture the awe-inspiring architecture of Notre-Dame while also centering Claire's emotional journey. The spare use of color has a poetic effect and adds great drama to the narrative. VERDICT A wonderful wordless picture book that will inspire readers to search for the things that add color to their lives. - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Other - 02/02/2026 In a wordless picture book whose grayscale architectural illustrations incorporate hints of glorious full color, Fong (The Clock) explores a child discovering life’s glimmers on their own terms. Rain seems imminent in a Paris-cued city as a child, presumably Claire, heads outside with a caregiver. Amid intricate monochromatic linework, a golden coin and a busking violinist’s melody that’s depicted as a jewel-toned ribbon draw the youth’s attention, but the tune disappears as the child and adult, whose skin tones reflect the white of the page, enter a huge cathedral that resembles Notre Dame. As the grown-up gestures enthusiastically to the magnificent Gothic surroundings, Claire wilts into a bored, dramatic slump. But when sunlight breaks through the cathedral’s rose window, it transforms the space into a kaleidoscope of colored light, and an ecstatic Claire dances through the sparkling beams. Though clouds and rain soon interrupt the bright moment, Claire realizes that it’s possible to nurture the things that enliven their world. Sharing the found coin with the busker, the child splashes in a rainbow-tinged puddle, then heads to play instruments with their caregiver at home, where shimmering light pours from a window. Wonder isn’t only something to be found, this winking work firmly communicates-it’s something that can be made, too. Background figures are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4-8. Agent: Abigail Frank. Sanford J. Greenburger Assoc. (Apr.) - Copyright 2026

Booklist - 04/01/2026 In this wordless picture book, a mother and small daughter walk through their Paris neighborhood when a beguiling rainbow wisp of music beckons them inside the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral. Though the mother points out interior wonders with awe, the bored child wilts—until rainbows of light beam from the stained-glass rose window high above. Transformed by the dancing light, the girl twirls with delight. Saddened when rainy skies dim the window’s colors, the girl again follows the twisting musical rainbow, offering a penny to the street musician she discovers conjuring this magic. In a final moment of wonder, the girl exults in rainbows shimmering in puddles, revealed as reflections from the now illuminated cathedral’s window. Meticulously rendered in cross-hatched grayscale, the immersive art fills sweeping architectural views with intriguing, loosely suggested detail. Bursts of rainbow color—revealing light, music, and their reflected wonders—illuminate the muted palette with striking effect. Using a setting both familiar and awe-inspiring to evoke mood and emotion, this gentle story reflects on how delight in light and music can transform an ordinary day. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.