Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/01/2018 Gr 2–4—A feel-good biographical look at a great songwriter. Israel Baline arrived on Ellis Island as a small boy fleeing the violence of Russian pogroms. But in the freedom of New York's Lower East Side, he blossomed into Irving Berlin. From his first song (sold for 37 cents) to iconic hits like "God Bless America" and "White Christmas," the irrepressible Berlin used his music to express his love for his adopted homeland. Readers will enjoy following the tale of a young person who uses his talent to reinvent himself. Warm and evocative watercolor illustrations create an appropriate atmosphere for this friendly giant of music. Unless readers are familiar with Berlin's most famous song, the occasional declarations of "God Bless America!" throughout may seem unexpected and out of place, but ultimately they reinforce the musician's legacy. The author's note includes additional informational tidbits, but the list of further reading is somewhat dated; the most recent book is published in 2003. VERDICT A good addition to biography collections that are short on musicians.—Savannah Kitchens, Chilton-Clanton Public Library, AL - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/15/2018 Irving Berlin gets the full picture-book treatment in this appealing introduction to the songwriter. Berlin’s story begins as the five-year-old arrives in the U.S. in 1893 along with his family, fleeing the Russian pogroms. Left fatherless at 13, he makes money by singing and making up tunes, eventually writing the smash hit, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” Kimmelman does a fine job of touching on both Berlin’s professional and personal lives and doesn’t shy away from mentioning that not everyone liked the fact that a Jewish immigrant was writing America’s most beloved songs, like “White Christmas.” Her text is long in spots, but readers will come away with a sense of the man and what his music meant to America, especially in times of war. Gardner’s artwork, which captures Berlin’s exuberance, is displayed nicely on oversize pages. The mostly realistic style is softened on some spreads that are executed in chalks, giving the art the gauzy feel of memory. A fine mix of music and the immigrant experience. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.