Bound To Stay Bound

View MARC Record
 

Full Text Reviews:

Booklist - 05/15/2017 Veteran author Rylant tackles a subject both as tiny as a leaf and as huge as the cosmos, as various animals are born and work their way through the beautiful, though sometimes scary, world. Most heartening here is the message that when things seem tough, there is always something to love, something to protect, and a reason to arise each morning, if only to find out what happens next. Rylant’s poetic text is as spare as Wenzel’s artwork is effusive. Occasionally, his nature scenes bring to mind the work of Henri Rousseau, but there is also humor, courtesy of the animals’ faces. Both text and art have disjointed moments—asking what the animals love about their lives takes away some of the grandeur, as does the one-and-done appearance of house pets amidst depictions of the natural world. But more important, this book gives a shining overview of life’s peaks and valleys and conveys the importance of understanding that a curve in the road only starts a journey anew. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 06/01/2017 PreS-Gr 2—A spiritual yet not overtly religious epistle on hope and the many reasons to embrace life. It opens with the notion that "life begins small." Wenzel shows a seedling surrounded by mountains. The next spread declares: "Even for the elephants. Then it grows." A calf is seen looking up to the enormous adults in its herd. Several animals discuss what they love about life, and as the author acknowledges that "life is not always easy," readers observe a bluebird flying through a storm. They are asked to remember that there is always "something to love…and to protect." The narrative continues in this vein, promising that "it is worth waking up in the morning to see what might happen." The mood of the child-friendly illustrations shifts appropriately from the darkness of the wilderness to the vitality of life seen in a flock of birds crossing the moon. The illustrator infuses the book with humor where possible, such as in the expression of a floppy-eared, stick-bearing dog or a camel kicking up sand across a spread. However, Rylant's meandering messages on growth, love, protection, new roads, and—oddly—the value of waking up, raise the question of whether this title has an audience, particularly since these themes are unconnected to one another or to a story. Wenzel's exuberant paintings, though, are quite engaging and convey a deep appreciation for the wonders of the natural world. VERDICT Best shared in an interactive setting.—Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

View MARC Record
Loading...



  • Copyright © Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy