Bound To Stay Bound

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Booklist - 10/01/2019 When distracting, sometimes spooky nighttime sights and sounds interfere with Sasha's ability to get a good night's sleep, this brave five-year-old takes matters into her own hands. Loud neighbors, creepy images and noises, and a very bright moon are keeping Sasha awake. She knows she can always call Mama and Papa to help dispel troubles, but Sasha is determined to solve her own problems, and her repeated refrain, I'm brave! I'm strong! I'm five! appears every time she hops out of bed to make her room more peaceful and sleep-friendly. Best's story is a lively and reassuring take on developing autonomy and independence, and Sasha's bold, repeated assertion about her own abilities will be especially comforting to little ones. Kulikov's full-color, heavily crosshatched artwork adds to the night-time atmosphere, zooming in on expressive neighbors, shadowy creatures in corners, and the warm glow of Sasha's flashlight, which helps debunk her fears. This empowering twist on the classic bedtime story is a great match for Vin Vogel's Bedtime for Yeti (2016). - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 11/01/2019 PreS-K—A young girl weathers the terrors of going to sleep all by herself. Sasha's parents have read her a story, kissed her cheeks, and tiptoed out of her room, but she still isn't tired enough to sleep. It's loud outside, and the moon is too bright, and strange, scary noises fill the room. The temptation to call on her parents, who she knows are waiting right outside her door, is hard to resist. As she encounters each problem, Sasha resolutely reminds herself that she can do this herself, for she is brave, she is strong, and she is five! So she pulls the curtains tightly shut against the moonlight, shines a flashlight to startle her cat and eventually—finally—is able to rest peacefully for the night. Kulikov's playful mixed media illustrations create hints of malice and magic in the night that are revealed through the child's investigations. While there are other stories that deal with bedtime and the terrifying transformation of innocuous shapes in the night, this story stands out for its ability to break down bravery into small, manageable steps. VERDICT The protagonists' fears and worries are completely relatable and readers will joyfully join in the refrain of, "I'm brave! I'm strong! I'm five!" A first purchase for libraries serving young children.—Laken Hottle, Providence Community Library, RI - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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