Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 01/01/2021 New York Times Book Review editor Paul enters the picture-book arena on little cat feet, humorously adopting the egocentric perspective of a family’s feline. The story begins with a dad selecting a book (a “rectangle” in kitty speak) to read to his little boy. The calico narrates as the pair each holds one edge of the book in order to keep a hand free for petting her. She demonstrates other ways that she is involved in this pastime, like scratching her head on the book’s corner “to make the rectangle feel useful” and sitting on an open book to enhance it. As the story progresses, readers watch the boy grow up and change his reading habits, but the tenacious kitty always finds a way to stay close to her human and his reading material. Cameron’s springtime palette complements the story’s sunny tone and the cat’s many expressions are truly delightful. The running joke that the cat is actually being unhelpful will land hardest for adults, but kids will giggle over the familiar feline antics. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.