Bound To Stay Bound

Publishers Weekly - 04/13/2026 Slater (the Escargot series) and Yim (Rose by the Sea) cast a lively fish tale with a whopper of a twist that suggests the real catch is not what’s landed but what’s shared. When it’s rumored in a small fishing village that the legendary Big One is close to shore, youngest resident Marina joins forces with eldest resident Nana to try to catch the creature. Though the townspeople share their doubts ("Are you sure you have the grit and the gumption?"), the pale-skinned duo’s collaborative bond deepens as they admire clouds, discuss favorite soups, and sing a sea chanty. Then the calm blue sea turns a swirling gray and offers up something unexpected: a breaching whale, tangled in fishing line. When the shipmates set it free, generosity begets generosity as the whale slaps "a shower of fish" into their boat. Via a yarn-spinning voice and pencil and pastel artwork that’s rich in salt-sprayed atmosphere, the creators craft an immersive adventure that’s as bountiful as the sea it celebrates. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4-8. Author’s agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Productions. (June) - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly used with permission.

Booklist - 06/01/2026 When the elusive “Big One” is spotted close to shore, Marina and Nana’s fishing excursions bring them closer to nature and end with a whale of a tale. In a bustling fishing village, the oldest (Nana) and the smallest (Marina) residents load their unorthodox bait—a rose-ripe peach—and set out in a dinghy alongside other fisherfolk in search of their catch. With keen observations and a song, the pair watch coastal critters while scanning for signs of the Big One, their senses attuned to “the groaning of a school of croakers” and “the pump-er-lunk of a wading bittern.” Highly detailed pastel-and-pencil illustrations capture the tightly knit charms of their familiar community and, using particularly effective shifts in perspective that include slices above and below the surface, showcase the teeming ecology among dappled oceanscapes of blue and green. With its evocative language and themes of determination and environmentalism, this observant multigenerational nature story makes a pleasing pick for poetic young adventurers. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.