Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 11/15/2016 Houdini, a hare, was the star assistant for Monsieur Lapin’s magic show. A born performer, he also attended to every detail backstage, keeping the team of rabbits functioning smoothly. But when Houdini’s and Monsieur Lapin’s roles are magically reversed, Houdini becomes the star, while Monsieur Lapin, now a rabbit, is relegated to the sidelines. Although Houdini is a great success, he tires of stardom and becomes aware that Monsieur Lapin misses the spotlight. Realizing that “life is truly magical when you share it,” Houdini transforms Monsieur Lapin back into a human and is rewarded when he and the rabbit team are given star billing. The razzle-dazzle magic performed by the two lead characters and the sizable cast of chubby rabbits is adeptly captured in the whimsical illustrations. A palette of mostly muted colors allows the action to take center stage and specific details, highlighted in red, to pop off the page. While entertaining, a lack of clarity in the theme and character development keep this from being truly magical. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.