Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 12/15/2015 Alex and Drew are both eager to play in the park. Alex is toting a stuffed rabbit, stuffed Pegasus, and supplies for a tea party, and Drew brings a pet dog. Alex’s imagined world is light and breezy—the stuffed toys come to life and enjoy the tea party while smiling clouds look on. Meanwhile, Drew’s fantasy world is darker—the dog becomes a dragon, and they both fly around volcanoes and spooky trees. This volume of the Three Story Books series structures the wordless narratives so Alex’s story runs horizontally in the top row, Drew’s occupies the middle row, and the bottom row shows what’s really going on in the park as the two children play together. Readers can follow each story individually or read all three gradually intertwining tales together and imagine their own dialogue and narration. Bosch uses a different color palette for the highly detailed, cartoonish illustrations, while the clouds reveal clever hints along the way. The book ends with a neat twist on gender expectations that could spark meaningful discussions. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.