Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 08/25/2023 Gr 1–3—A brand new library book, with "fresh ink on crisp pages," makes its way from reader to reader, working its magic along the way. Settings meander from a library to a hospital room to a tree house, where the children reading the book find that the magic can "transport you to a brighter place," is "sweeter when you share it," and is "more powerful when you choose it [the book] yourself." Every librarian will recognize the tattered, much-loved book, (though not many will see themselves hand stamping the book with a due date, as the librarian in this story does). The original book eventually ends up at the library book sale, where a father and child pick it up to repurpose it into art, thus completing the cycle. The message is clear—when a book finds its reader, magic can happen. Children will find much to engage them in the gorgeous gouache and colored pencil illustrations, with dreamy pink and orange trees, yellow houses, and floaty spirals and swirly symbols flowing out of the book indicating the "magic." The cast of characters is a lively mix of ethnic backgrounds. Background images include one child with a walker, and another using a wheelchair. VERDICT Despite the rich visuals and the lovely message, however, the text lacks a clear narrative structure and somehow doesn't quite come together as a coherent whole.—Sue Morgan - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 08/08/2023 After opening with a bird's-eye view of people reading all around a pleasant park, the perspective immediately moves inside a library. A new book has just been placed on display. Who will check it out? Who will become its first reader? This timely story for book lovers of all ages captures the spirit of connection between book and reader. The narrative gently suggests that not all books are for all readers and acknowledges the power in choosing a book for oneself. People at different ages or in different circumstances need books for different things at different times. Graceful illustrations project an atmosphere of positivity. Books are being celebrated, not removed. People of various skin tones, hair colors, and ages are portrayed, and several children make use of adaptive devices. After the book has been read and well loved, it appears to be reaching the end of its useful life. Even so, the final images reveal that it is being repurposed into visual artwork, and the power of the book lives on. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.