Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 10/01/2025 *Starred Review* In the idyllic Iranian countryside, as a boy assists his grandmother in weaving a new rug, he recalls, “All of this takes weeks, but in my memory, it’s one long wonderful day.” A powerful sense of nostalgia anchors the text as we follow the boy on his “day” of learning and making precious memories with his grandparents. There’s an overt message at work, as well, established in the title and carried on through the story as the grandmother impresses upon the boy that “nothing in this world is perfect, and nothing should pretend to be.” This is reflected in the “Persian flaw,” an intentional imperfection included in every rug. Happily, the embedded lesson is just one thread of many woven into the book, which also offers powerful points of wisdom from the grandmother and an introduction to a fascinating art form that will undoubtedly be new to many American readers. Stamper’s softly textured watercolor artwork brings a bright, tactile beauty (and many other details) to the work, rendering rugs on the page that look soft enough to sit on. One spread showing the boy and his grandmother designing their rug on graph paper is sure to inspire arts and crafts projects at home or in the classroom. A precious intergenerational story, steeped in art, culture, and the beautiful idea of a perfect memory. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.