Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 09/01/2011 Gr 1–3—Finding new friends after a family move can be one of the most devastating traumas of childhood, but Juster and Karas use imagination and humor to address the situation. Told by his mother to take a walk down the block—"you might meet someone"—a child takes her suggestion to a new level. Heading down the sidewalk, he suddenly throws his head back and shouts "NEVILLE" at the top of his lungs. Soon one child, then another, and before long, a bevy of youngsters show up mimicking his cry. Even the neighborhood dogs join in. Questions fly as to who this Neville is and what he is like, and at the end of the day, as everyone goes home for supper, the crowd pleads with the boy to return tomorrow, which, of course, he is happy to do. Karas places likably scruffy-looking children across the spreads and, in sync with the call-outs for "Neville," stretches out hand-written versions of the name in various sizes and colors, cleverly capturing the evolving event with wit and energy. Although Juster doesn't reveal who Neville is until the last page, sharp readers will guess his identity early on. Nevertheless, this ingenious foray into breaking into a new neighborhood makes for an amusing and appealing story.—Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA - Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Bulletin for the Center... - 11/01/2011 Being the new kid really is tough, as the protagonist of this picture book could tell you (“He imagined the teacher saying . . . ‘He comes from the South Pole, and you can all make fun of him as much as you want’”). Pushed out by his eager mother for a walk down the block, he randomly stands on the corner and shouts “Neville!” Soon kids cumulatively join him in his pursuit, helping make sure that the yells are loud and querying him about this wonderful, highly sought Neville. Bolstered by his new acquaintanceships, he returns home cheered and settles down for his first night in his new house as his mother tucks him in: “Good night, Neville, pleasant dreams.” That funny, prankish notion is the center of an effortlessly spun yarn touched with lively dialogue, made by Juster’s effective pacing into a short short story rather than an overlong picture book. While the logic isn’t perfect (in real life, some kids are going to think it’s weird when they find out he was hanging around yelling for himself), it’s refreshing seeing a new-kid story that’s got some real creativity to it; some youngsters will anticipate the closing revelation, while others will want to go back and read the story anew once they discover Neville’s identity. The visuals partner generously and aptly with the text in work of a slightly different flavor than usual for Karas: clever layout paces out elements with panel sequences and lets the cries of “Neville!” float loosely across the background, in a variety of shapes, colors, and patterns, while the scenes are an inspired blend of dismal geometric hopelessness, in a subdued-tone neighborhood awash in diagonals pointing off to nowhere, and Karas’ familiar scratchy-lined people. This could spark an interesting discussion about creative ways to get to know people-or just other methods of faking out a crowd. DS - Copyright 2011 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Booklist - 10/15/2011 *Starred Review* A long road trip, depicted in a series of panels on the title page, sets the stage for this tender, funny story about moving, settling down, and starting over. A boy and his family move to a new town. He worries about all of the troubles of relocation, especially being lonely, and his mother sends him out into the neighborhood to find new friends. As he walks to the end of the block, he draws attention by calling out a mysterious name: “NEVILLE, NEVILLE.” In no time, the streets are full of kids who have joined in the shouting and are all willing to help look for the eponymous stranger. As they ask questions, the boy tells them all about his best friend, Neville, whom they can’t wait to meet. Evening descends, the children part company, and the boy returns to his new home, where Neville’s true identity is revealed. The story’s simple charm comes to life in Juster’s well-paced, spare language. Karas’ deft mixed-media sketches carry remarkable weight. The new neighborhood begins as a lonely row of identical white houses and ends as a colorful bustle of congenial activity. With just a few simple strokes, Karas imbues his cartoonlike figures with deep and subtle emotion. A harmonious blend of text and illustration, this is a warm, reassuring choice for all children who know the anxieties that come with big life changes. - Copyright 2011 Booklist.

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