Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 10/01/2016 In sumptuous, dramatic watercolor paintings, the origin story of Pinocchio is explored as a series of journeys representing life, death, and rebirth. After an explanatory note, the almost wordless book presents images of the sky, stars, trees, and branches; explosions, fire, and water; a snake, cat, fox, whale, and birds. Lightning strikes a tree, animating a simple branch. The stick figure faces challenges on land, in the sky, and in the sea, including being swallowed by a shark. Sometimes the branch has companions, sometimes it is alone. After overcoming many tests, the branch sprouts leaves, achieving a level of maturity. It grows into a large tree, with its top leaves forming figures suggestive of Pinocchio and other characters in the book. The last page shows a man collecting timber that will someday form a marionette. The text announces, “So begins the story of a piece of wood.” Though likely to be more engaging for readers already familiar with the story of Pinocchio, this imaginative, beautiful, and challenging book inspires readers to contemplate a familiar story from a new perspective. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.