Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 06/16/2025 Rejoicing in the "wonders all around me," a speaker narrates the arrival of annual northern-hemisphere weather patterns as experienced via "my fingers and toes,/ my ears, my mouth and nose" in this lush calendrical chronicle, subtly penned by Milusich without reference to sight. "When a chill gust snatches my scarf/ and frost kisses my cheeks/ I know Winter’s come," the youth explains, further perceiving the "Scruunnch" sound made by boots as "the snow creaks hello." Spring’s hyacinths offer opportunities for tactile experiences ("I trace the curl/ of each thin waxy petal") and scent-based discovery ("I breathe in their prettiness"). The odor of "hot dogs, sunscreen, and peaches" defines a summertime trip to the beach, and autumn brings thingsfull circle via a whiff of "earth and leaves, apples and cinnamon." With his signature wavy markings, Raschka’s watercolor and oil pastel artwork evokes nature’s cycles as shifting color palettes connote the passage of time while capturing the loving relationship between parent and child. Protagonist skin tones echo pages’ background colors. Ages 4-8. (Oct.) - Copyright 2025

School Library Journal - 10/01/2025 Toddler-Gr 2—Neveah, under the protective and loving gaze of her mother, enjoys the four seasons without the use of sight. Nothing is said about her sightlessness; the other four senses are emphasized throughout the year. She tastes snowflakes during the winter, smells spring flowers in the air, hears the buzzing of bees in the summer, and feels scratchy leaves during fall. The charming watercolor and crayon illustrations cradle Neveah, much like her mother does as the year passes, creating a comforting and soothing feeling. The child dances through the illustrations with movement felt in every picture: she waves at the ocean, delicately touches flowers, and makes a snowman that seems to bow back. Onomatopoeia is sprinkled throughout, with happy "cheerily-cheerily-cheer-up" from the robins welcoming the spring and a "scruunnch!" of boots in the snow illustrating how the girl enjoys the natural world with her hearing. VERDICT A lovely look at the seasons, and an excellent choice for story time, showing the sensory experience of a child who wholly embraces every moment.—Melisa Bailey - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 10/01/2025 *Starred Review* This lyrical celebration of the changing seasons is told from the point of view of a child who is blind. Neveah experiences the world through her senses: “my fingers and toes, my ears, my mouth and nose.” In winter, the air “smells cold and whispers a secret.” With a little help from her mother, Neveah actively participates in fun adventures like building a snowman and catching snowflakes on her tongue. Enjoying a springtime walk, a cool breeze ruffles the child’s hair as she savors the beauty around her. Finding a hyacinth, she traces the curl of each “thin waxy petal” and breathes in “their prettiness.” The sound of buzzing bees makes her “teeth tingle.” Playing at the beach in summer, she delights in the grainy sensation of sand: “Mommy pours a trickle into my palm, and it spills through my fingers.” In autumn, Neveah rakes leaves into a big pile and then dives in with a joyous “plop!” A teacher of visually impaired preschoolers, Milusich presents a descriptive, dynamic text that employs onomatopoetic words with great aplomb, from the muffled “thumpity-thump” of mittens clapping to the sharp “keee-oowww!” of a seagull’s shriek. Raschka’s signature swirling, impressionistic illustrations capture the joyful seasonal vignettes. Encouraging reflection, this is an immersive, empowering picture book about inclusion, abilities, and appreciation of “wonders all around.” - Copyright 2025 Booklist.