Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 06/01/2022 K-Gr 2—This book invites readers to explore the outside world, describing multiple aspects of nature and leading from one thought right into another, from the safety of home all the way to the ocean and back again. For example, something like a nest may be mentioned on one page, but is the focus on the next. "If we were a nest, we'd be cozy, / woven with feathers and strings. / If we were eggs, we'd be safe there, / hidden beneath pleated wings." The vocabulary is simple, with a few upper-level nature words thrown in, such as eddy, but are always clear from either narrative context or the illustration. Scanlon provides amazing encouragement for children to go outside, get muddy, and explore, a message only enhanced by Sudyka's illustrations. Her cool, rich watercolors perfectly encapsulate the feeling of wonder and discovery. VERDICT A beautiful ode to nature that flows from individual exploration to having fun with friends at the end of the day.—Margaret Kennelly - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/01/2022 A group of children with varying skin tones live in a small cluster of wooden homes gathered around a river that flows to the sea. In this celebration of the natural world, one child in a red shirt stands out against the appealing landscape composed of lush greens, deep blues, and soothing grays. A neighbor comes out to play, then they are eventually joined by three more. In this simple outdoor setting, no technology or adults are present or needed. Breezy, rhythmic text effectively captures small elements of nature in language young children will understand and enjoy, inviting them to consider their surroundings in new ways. What if we were walls, the wind, or a pond? Perhaps a muddy bank, birds, or a seed? Watercolor gouache illustrations, finished digitally, combine fantasy and realism as the children discover and consider different parts of the scene. The characters explore the outdoors in an atmosphere of safety and freedom, resulting in a narrative that could inspire both contemplation and adventure. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.