Bound To Stay Bound

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Booklist - 04/15/2013 *Starred Review* A wise, old fluffy sheep, one of the Sleepwalkers, is part of a small group of animals that floats through dreams in a “safe house,” chasing away children’s nightmares. Unfortunately, it’s time for the old guard to move on. Successors are brought to life from inanimate objects to face off against armies of mice, infinite oceans, tentacles in darkness, and prehistoric planes. Rather than truly scary, these dream environments and enemies are equal parts lyrical and eerie, and, consequently, this British import strikes a unique tone of charming strangeness. The imagery is presented with a warbling line in predominantly tiny panels, also capturing the vague, sometimes claustrophobic sense of a dream. More than a simple (if weird) adventure, Schwarz constructs a fascinating and intricate mythology and even leaves readers with an echo of haunting poignancy. Bonifacius, a big golden bear who is chief among the new recruits, is scared out of his wits most of the time, but he soldiers on to do his duty, presenting both great accessibility and a great example for young readers. - Copyright 2013 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 07/01/2013 Gr 4 Up—Three sheep have been rescuing children from their own nightmares for a lifetime. Now that they are on the verge of retirement, they set out to train their replacements, which include a bear in a luchador mask, a charismatic sock monkey, and a crow with a pen for a head. These unlikely superheroes use both their wits and their fists to save the day in the most impossible and creative scenarios. One moment, they're saving a girl in a town entirely made of cheese from an army of rats; the next, they're saving an underwear-clad boy giving a speech in front of his classmates. But while they are out battling nightmares, our heroes must deal with their own demons, such as their fear of failure and of death. It's surprisingly deep for such a fantastical journey, but it is so action-packed and fast-paced that it seems as though there is a panel or page missing every once in a while that should have a little backstory. But while the exposition drops the ball, the drawings gracefully pick it back up. Anyone familiar with Schwarz's picture books knows that her artwork favors the surreal. In Sleepwalkers, her avant-garde style fits right in and greatly adds to each character and dream. Many of her dreamscapes will easily be some of the best illustrations seen in children's lit all year. With its lovable characters and imaginative settings, Sleepwalkers will be a hit with both young and older readers.—Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI - Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Bulletin for the Center... - 09/01/2013 Plagued by nightmares? Fear not, sleepy reader, a peaceful rest awaits you now that the Sleepwalkers are here to banish those pesky bad dreams for good. First, however, they have to undergo a major staffing change in this whimsical graphic novel, as the three incumbent Walkers (a goat, a ram, and a bison) yearn to take a rest themselves and recruit Bonno, a large but timid bear (formerly a blanket); Amali, an overeager sock monkey; and Sophia, a crow-like creature with a pen-nib head. The three must overcome their fears and insecurities to tackle the fears and insecurities of snoozing children, rescuing dreamers from N.I.P. (Naked in Public) scenarios, dreamscapes overrun with giant rats, and never-ending falls through the ether. The cheerful chaos of the plot structure and the illustrations provide cheerful buoyancy, and though the sequencing of the panels gets a bit confusing at times, the ultimate effect is that of a strange but enjoyable dream. The sketchy art, with its vaguely formed figures and sudden shifts in detail and scope, perfectly echoes the nebulous space of the inner mind, and youngsters with particularly active imaginations will find this a celebratory home for their fantastical whimsies. Fitful sleepers everywhere will be relieved that Bonno and pals are working to keep the nightmares at bay. KQG - Copyright 2013 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

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