Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/01/2018 K-Gr 2—In this simple and reassuring picture book, Olien opens by asking readers, "You are right now. What are you?" and the bright digital drawings on white background show each child as an integral part of their experiences. (Check out the immediately recognizable "sidewise smile.") "You are a cloud and a ray of light. You are the tallest tree. An open door. A silly dance." One relatable instance after another concludes with the statement that "the whole universe lives inside you. And inside everyone else too." What will you do with all this? It doesn't matter, because "right now, you are here. You are you. And that is perfect.'" The concept of being part of a moment may take a little explaining to the target audience, but in one-on-one sharing it can open conversations about being present while still looking forward to the future. Matched with Amy Krouse Rosenthal's The OK Book, it will serve to alleviate children's existential anxiety about "what comes next" that contrasts to their acceptance of "right now." VERDICT A lovely addition to social-emotional curricula and for one-on-one sharing.—Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter School, Providence - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/15/2018 Children are a combination of multiple facets: “You are big and small and loud and quiet.” Olien’s book about self-acceptance and recognizing one’s own worth points out the various features that each child possesses. The cartoon illustrations vary from central figures surrounded by empty space to several small vignettes on a page. The large pictures contain simple shapes in saturated colors with thick black outlines. The book’s conclusion is that what a youngster is, at this moment, is “perfect,” and that all the various characteristics may help determine future endeavors—but that’s for later. Children should be children and free to experience what life has to offer. Subtly, the author suggests that people are more the same than different: “The whole universe lives inside you. And inside everyone else too.” Pair this book with Wild One (2018), by Jane Whittingham, or Quick as a Cricket (1982), by Audrey Wood, for a storytime about the many aspects that make up a person. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.