Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/25/2022 K-Gr 3—Alicia and her family live in Puerto Rico, where she loves to fall asleep to the sound of the coquí, a tree frog abundant on the island. However, when Hurricane Maria hits Puerto Rico, the family has to shelter away from home with hundreds of other people. Newman offers an accessible glimpse of the effects of hurricanes in communities. This child-friendly picture book expresses the loss of homes and neighborhood damage from the eyes of a supportive and loving family. The bilingual story, which features from one to 10 lines of text per page, is set to a small black-and-white font with Spanish terms interlaced in the English text. The third-person narrative, set primarily on full spreads, moves the plot forward with text repetition and some vocabulary words. Newman utilizes onomatopoeia to represent the sound of the coquí, which may enhance a story time activity where children imitate this frog during the reading. This book could also be used in a social studies unit covering natural disasters for younger elementary students. The acrylic paint and charcoal illustrations depict the story's plot with a palette of primary and pastel colors. The illustrator captures scenes of Puerto Rico, revealing her own rich heritage. VERDICT An expressive picture book that will offer comfort to children who have experienced natural disasters and help other young children empathize with their classmates.—Kathia Ibacache - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 08/01/2022 Hurricanes are a part of island life in Puerto Rico, and in this bilingual picture book (which places the Spanish text first), readers are treated to vibrant, compelling artwork and a tender story about one girl’s experience with such a storm. Alicia adores the sound of coquíes, the native frog of the island, whose chant helps her fall asleep. Her routine is disrupted one day when a harsh hurricane comes to Puerto Rico. The family boards up their house and seeks safety at a storm shelter, along with many other Puerto Ricans. Once there, Alicia wonders what will happen to the little coquíes exposed to the storm. The hurricane rages for two days, and when the family emerges, it is to much flooding and destruction, powerfully captured in Baez's acrylic paint and charcoal illustrations. However, the community works together to start repairing their neighborhood, and the coquíes resume singing as night falls. Alicia’s character represents Puerto Rican strength, and her story demonstrates how family and hope can move one forward in beautiful ways. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.