Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/15/2019 When a child is sick or feeling sad, nothing helps more than “Mommy Medicine,” as described here by a young brown-skinned girl. Noisy kisses, hugs, a back rub; some soup or tea; playing a board or card game—the activities are varied but all involve togetherness. Some things are quiet, like whispering prayers; some are louder, like dancing and singing. When the child starts feeling energetic, the pair venture on an imaginary journey to faraway lands. The text is simple but descriptive, expertly making the shared love of the mother and child understandable as both universal and specific. Because no other relatives are discussed, the book could be applicable to all kinds of families, including single parents. Bright, naturalistic illustrations add entertaining texture to the story and show the mother and daughter as regular people rather than idealized figures. This warm, loving account could be a “how-to” guide for parents, demonstrating that the things the girl likes best involve little to no cost. Cozy and comforting, this is an effective antidote for childhood illness or anxiety. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 03/01/2019 PreS-Gr 2–Danticat (Mama's Nightingale) pays tribute to the ways in which mothers (or other caregivers, as she notes in the back matter) take care of their children when they are sick or down in the dumps. A young black girl shares a descriptive list of the things her mom does to help her feel better: playing games, telling stories, and making food, among many other acts of comfort and healing. She describes each type of "Mommy Medicine" using vivid language, similes, and metaphors. "Or soup—pea, chicken, or squash. I love squash! It's like sunshine in a bowl." The illustrations by Wright, a political cartoonist, burst with the love between the familial pair. She draws with detail and an array of glowing colors that fill each page. The focus is on the mother and daughter, who appear in each vignette like stills from an animation. VERDICT A warm and fuzzy offering for sick days on the couch or everyday reading. A recommended purchase.—Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.