Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 02/01/2026 PreS-Gr 2—Eddie, a young boy with light brown skin, awakes with dread on a rainy and dreary Monday morning. Closing his eyes in avoidance, a mental tempest rises in his mind. Amid the dark, ominous clouds and lightning flashes, a larger-than-life, golden yellow rabbit emerges from the turmoil to navigate Eddie through his worry: "storms are nothing to fear if you know where you're going. And we, Eddie, are going to find the sun." Soaring on a cloud above the storm, Eddie and Rabbit wander through color saturated, textured clay dreamscapes sculpted by Harkness digitally. An enchanted river, sprinkled with as many sparkling stars as above, sweeps Eddie and Rabbit away to a verdant maze, where they frolic and weave, Eddie's confidence growing among the lush greenery. Pausing on the brightest spread of the story, Eddie whispers to Rabbit, "I found the sun." Across sprawling, full spread illustrations, each an individual treasure, Harkness demonstrates the capabilities of shape as a leading visual element. A breathtaking palette of deep, serene blues melding with bright moments of yellow and buttery cream creates dramatic contrast between light and dark, '"It's only in the dark," Rabbit whispered, "That we can shine the brightest."' VERDICT A whimsical morning lullaby, this SEL adventure will gently guide readers to find the sun amid their own fears.—Emily Brush - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Publishers Weekly - 04/06/2026 Visual appeal marks Harkness’s meandering metaphorical epic, in which a search for the sun helps a child beat the Monday blues. After worriedly awakening and wishing that the day "might forget he was here," Eddie, who’s depicted with light brown skin, curls up beneath the covers and is transported into a stormy landscape where his yellow stuffie, Rabbit, invites him on an expedition to find the sun. As the duo adventure forth, glimpsing glimmers while traveling high upon a cloud and then down into a "dark, raging river," Rabbit reassures at every turn. When the two eventually journey through a dark cave, they’re rewarded with stars "like a million tiny suns," and a final obstacle helps Eddie find a sense of internal warmth that helps him to tackle the day. Pencil sketches sculpted in virtual reality create immersive, three-dimensional digital renderings that lend the feel of Claymation to this venturesome picture book that sensitively foregrounds a child’s path to inner strength. Ages 3-6. (May) - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly used with permission.

Booklist - 05/01/2026 Eddie dreads Mondays. As raindrops fall outside, the little boy clutches his yellow bunny stuffie and crawls back to bed, unable to face the day. The fretful child is swept into a dreamland maelstrom: “The sky growled. The clouds curled like fists, and the air rumbled, low and loud.” In the eye of the storm, Eddie is frozen with fear. Gigantic, golden-hued Rabbit appears, and the pals embark on a journey to find the sun. Together they soar high above the world on a cloud, tumble down a raging river, and wind up in a dark cave. Offering pithy wisdom (“It’s only in the darkest of darks . . . that we shine the brightest”), steadfast Rabbit is a supportive, guiding ray of sunshine. Showing perseverance and learning to ask for help, Eddie gains courage to take the lead and find his inner light. Harkness’ striking digital illustrations resemble clay sculpture, with a tactile, three-dimensional appearance. A reassuring picture book about facing fears. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.