Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 09/01/2019 PreS-Gr 3—While a young boy admits that his grandparents are "really old" with "wrinkly faces, a little bit of hair, and funny teeth," the things he's heard about old people just don't align. The cover, which features the child, dog, granny, and grandad jumping barefoot on a trampoline says it all. In this perfect marriage of text and illustrations, each spread dispels another myth about the aged. "NOT MUCH FUN" shows the narrator sandwiched between his grands on a riotous roller coaster; "SLOW…" has them skateboarding and roller skating downhill; "NOT BENDY" pictures them in a yoga class; "SCARED of new things…" shows the boy and Grandpa playing a video game while Grandma is engrossed with her laptop. And "…they definitely don't care for ROMANCE" shows the couple sharing a tender kiss. Grandson concludes that he "…knows the truth…Grandparents are…AMAZING!" The illustrations, rendered in pen, ink, gouache, and photoshop, depict a short, round grandma with red dress and shoes and a tall, thin balding grandpa with suspenders and bow tie while the short, stout tyke seems to favor gran. The little brown dog adds to the fun, growling at a robo-pet, dancing with abandon or hiding under a pillow from the loud music. The endpapers show a vibrant household cluttered with African masks, suitcases, sports equipment, books, and family photos. VERDICT A delightful read-aloud that celebrates grandparents and the special bond they share with their grandchildren.—Barbara Auerbach, Cairo Public Library, NY - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 11/15/2019 This jocular picture book attempts to break the stereotype of grandparents as stodgy old codgers. It also gives kids a model for confronting stereotypes with their own lived experience. A little boy starts by showing portraits of his grandparents, saying that they’re really old with wrinkly faces, funny teeth, and not much hair. The boy then goes through a list of strange things he’s heard about old people, showing how that just doesn’t jibe with his own grandparents. The illustrations, done in pen, ink, and gouache, hilariously juxtapose what the boy has heard with what his grandparents (who look like Jack Sprat and his wife) actually do. For example, while the boldface type announces that grandparents are slow, not much fun, clumsy, “not bendy,” and unwilling to try new things, the double-page spreads show his grandparents with him at a roller rink, on a roller coaster, at yoga class, dancing, and operating a robo-dog. The evidence mounts until the boy concludes that grandparents are amazing. A nice addition to grandparent-appreciation books. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.