Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 05/01/2018 A young boy of mixed heritage (Japanese mother, Caucasian father) shows how his parents’ lives were dull and boring before he was in the picture, but now are fun and exciting. One example is their daily commute, during which they take the narrator to school and stop at a park, having enriching encounters with many animals. The text is brief, to the point, and uses descriptive words the way a child might, making it plausible that this could be a child’s voice. Meshon’s trademark naive-art style depicts pages full of bright colors and an abundance of detail, furthering that impression and showing that the narrator’s take on the situation may not be entirely accurate. Word balloons identify many objects, boosting the childlike feel and expanding our knowledge of the family’s lifestyle (lunch comes in bento boxes and can include tamagoyaki and onigiri) without compromising the simplicity of the text. This enjoyable peek at a particular family makes both a wonderful window and a mirror for children and their own families. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.