Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 09/01/2021 *Starred Review* A boy asks his grandmother, “What is love?” She suggests he leave their home to find out. As he travels, he prompts a wide range of responses: a fish, applause, the night, a house? Characters explain why those things are love to them, but these items do not resonate with the boy. Lovely and lyrical, the text goes on to add more replies, including snow, trees, food, and animals, ending with a lengthy list from a poet. As the boy questions the array of characters, they each sadly conclude, “You do not understand.” The boy grows increasingly frustrated that he cannot get a satisfactory answer. As he journeys, time passes. In the end, two beautifully composed, expressionistic images provide readers with the best connection between the boy and his quest: An early spread showing the woman hugging her grandson amongst towering flowers is echoed at the end, with their positions reversed. The boy, now a man, shelters his grandmother within the visual circle of blooms. Flat gouache paintings provide the perfect ethereal setting for the fairy tale–like story. The clothes are not specific to any era, and there is little evidence of technology until a sports car briefly appears. The words and images work together to create layers of thought and understanding, making this book rewarding to a wide range of readers. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 11/01/2021 PreS-Gr 2—Sometimes, the simplest question results in the most complex answer. One day, a curious young boy asks his grandmother what love is. Despite her age and life experience, she is unable to adequately reply to his query and ultimately suggests that the boy venture out into the world to discover an answer for himself. Instead of one unanimous response, however, there are many. Every person the boy encounters has a different opinion of the truth—from a fish, to a seed, to the night—ultimately leading the boy to determine his own interpretation of the elusive emotion. This poetic story appeals to a wide range of readers; short, repetitive phrases help young children connect to the text, while the depth of the subject matter resonates with older readers as well. Throughout the book, specific words are emphasized in larger, lyrical font, dramatically standing apart from the rest of the text. Together, the narrative and illustrations are well balanced, enhancing the visual appeal of the book. Created in gouache on watercolor paper, the images vary in detail and intensity, repeating select visuals at the beginning and end in an intentional symmetry that balances light and dark. Much like the message of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree, the concept of love is ambiguous in general, but clearly defined for each character. VERDICT Young children and their families will enjoy the blend of silliness and beauty in this memorable depiction of one boy's quest to learn more about love.—Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L. - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.