Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 08/01/2021 *Starred Review* Longing for children, a king and queen consult an inventor, who creates a little wooden robot prince, and a witch, who turns a log into a princess with a secret: whenever she sleeps, she returns to log form, until a magic phrase reawakens her as a child. A servant, seeing a log in the princess’ bed one morning, tosses it out the window. Realizing what has happened, her brother follows her trail down to the docks and onto a ship transporting logs. After its cargo is unloaded in the frozen North, the prince finds the log, lifts it into a little cart, and begins the long, difficult walk home. Exhausted, he begins to falter. He wakens his sister, who takes over, pulling the wooden robot in the cart. After she collapses as well, some unexpected allies rescue the children. The beautifully worded narrative and engaging artwork combine to give this picture book its considerable appeal. Two full-page illustrations name some of the royal children’s adventures during their journey but let young listeners imagine how those enticing-sounding stories might unfold. Created with pen and ink, shaded with fine parallel lines and crosshatching, and digitally colored, the scenes are full of vintage charm, while the characters have an amiable, cartoon look. A captivating, original fairy tale. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 09/03/2021 PreS-Gr 4—This the tale of a king and queen (he with white skin, she with brown) who long for a child. Their wishes come true with the help of a kind inventor and a good witch, and they end up with not one child but two: a wooden robot boy and his princess sister. There is a slight glitch as one might expect in a fairy tale—the princess turns into a log nightly and has to be woken each morning with a magical phrase. Despite this relatively minor detail, the siblings enjoy their lives until one day a dramatic turn of events sets them on an action-packed adventure, requiring them to each rescue the other on their perilous journey home. With pen drawings colored digitally, Eisner-winning Gauld's picture book debut is a story full of fairy-tale magic with timeless touches and modernity woven together seamlessly. The brilliant pacing of the story, accomplished in both illustrations and text, make this a truly delightful tale that will be enjoyed by a wide-ranging audience. With heroic beetles and delightful multiracial siblings, this is a magical offering. VERDICT Utterly charming and full of positivity, magic, and love, this is a must-have for every collection.—John Scott, Baltimore County P.S. - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.