Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 06/14/2024 K-Gr 2—In this nearly wordless nautical romp a parent makes the right choice—abandoning a vacuum cleaner to join a child about to set sail over a rumpled carpet ocean in a ship made from piled furniture and bric-a-brac. Their faces alive with contagious excitement, the doll-like mariners in Blackall's alternating domestic and watery scenes break out the sailor talk—"HOIST THE BURGEE!"; "Swab the poop deck!"—as they're tossed about by rogue waves, take a breather in the doldrums while the first mate answers a phone call, then go on to giddy encounters with whales, giant squid, and sharks. Nor does the voyage end when a second grownup appears in the doorway: "I guess it's time to vacuum the rug," "WHAT RUG!" Along with modeling a loving family in which the adults recognize the importance of taking time to play, the Caldecott multi-medalist tucks several subtexts into her seemingly simple episode. For one, there are no gender cues in either art or narrative, and for another all three family members have lightly, ambiguously toned skin. Furthermore, while all wear tight-fitting caps on their round heads, two of the trio are hairless (apart from thin eyebrows) like patients undergoing chemotherapy or with some other condition; at least the suggestion is there, to be taken up or not by readers familiar with the look from their own families or experiences. VERDICT Imagination fills the sails of this rousing, unusually inclusive, yarn.—John Edward Peters - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 04/01/2024 *Starred Review* In the living room, a young sea captain warns his vacuuming sailor (a parent) that the rug is, in fact, the rising ocean, and they must climb aboard the ship! As they hoist the burgee and raise the mainsail, a complex chair-fort transforms into a staunch seafaring vessel and the rug becomes a teeming ocean. Although they briefly hit the doldrums when the parent takes a phone call, soon the vacuum cord becomes the tentacles of a giant squid and the sailors are stranded on a rapidly melting iceberg surrounded by swarming sharks, rescued in the nick of time by a lighthouse (artist wink) arriving in the form of a second parent who joins the play. This delightful tale highlights and celebrates the powerful bonding that happens when caregivers engage in imaginative play with children. It’s a spectacular tale of adventure on the high seas, complete with a glossary of maritime terminology for the deckhands and first mates who may not yet be fluent. Blackall uses hand-lettered text and Procreate artwork with a mix of gouache, pencil, and watercolor to create spectacular ocean vistas and beautifully lit living rooms alike. With her trademark skill, these pages are richly textured and infinitely layered, from the wood of the mast to the ripple of the waves. Tiny sea captains everywhere will cherish this lovely tale. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.