Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 10/01/2000 K-Gr 3-This deceptively simple story showcases Shannon's quirky humor and offbeat illustrations. A summer storm provokes a series of unpleasant interactions. From the chickens, cat, and dog whose squabbling results in a man yelling and waking the baby to an altercation between shopkeepers and an eventual traffic tie-up, the rain sets off a chain reaction of misunderstandings, mishaps, and messes. Yet when the rain suddenly stops and a rainbow appears, folks find ways to mend fences and make the best of things. Engaging details and intersecting events make this story work. Shannon's writing flows well, creating a sense of inevitability as the action snowballs. The accompanying paintings have a vaguely retro look, with characters clothed in `50s-style apparel. Each character, however briefly introduced or described, has a distinct personality, although none have names. Teachers and parents could use this book to discuss sequencing, weather, manners, or even community helpers, but kids will just enjoy it as a fun story cheerfully told and amusingly illustrated.-Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information. - Copyright 2000 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Bulletin for the Center... - 12/01/2000 When the rain comes down, it sets off a chain of vexation: it makes the chickens squawk, which makes the cat yowl, which makes the dog bark, which makes people yell, which makes a police officer stop his car in traffic to investigate, and so on until there’s a fine damp neighborhood furor. When the sun comes out (“The air smelled fresh and sweet. Everything shimmered, and a rainbow stretched across the rooftops”), moods brighten, and people turn to chatting, extending helping hands, and picnicking (in the company of the chickens, cat, and dog that started it all). Shannon’s figures are a bit less spiky here than in No, David (BCCB 9/98), but they’ve got much of the same waxen apple-cheeked shine and toylike solidity (he’s particularly good with gaping mouths); the silver splinters of rain don’t dampen the enthusiasm of the vibrant colors. Though the chaos is diverting, the plot doesn’t quite muster up the necessary drizzle-fighting energy: neither the windup nor the recoil are organized and focused enough to make the cumulative chain into effective narrative, and the story’s not zany enough to pull off its unlikelier elements (the woman on the way to the airport deciding to stop and have her hair done, for instance). Still, there’s pleasure enough in the disorder and resolution that some youngsters may find this enjoyable come rain or come shine. - Copyright 2000 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Booklist - 10/15/2000 A rainstorm brings the city to a cacophonous halt in Shannon’s spirited, beautifully illustrated new work. “On Saturday morning, the rain came down.” It makes the chickens squawk, which makes the cat yowl, the dog bark, the man yell, his baby cry, and his wife shout. The chaos grows, out of the house and into the streets. Just as it seems a riot will ensue, the rain stops, and the crowd gradually untangles. The book ends in the backyard where it all began--with husband, wife, and baby picnicking serenely next to snoozing animals. The brief text is well paced and filled with words that build the story’s tension and noise. But it’s the colorful painted spreads that will most interest children. Wild, detailed street scenes, filled with richly drawn characters and shifting perspectives, show the absurdity and humor in each incident that contributes to the larger chaos. Children will return to these scenes of raucous upheaval and sigh with relief when calm is restored. - Copyright 2000 Booklist.

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