Bound To Stay Bound

View MARC Record
 

Full Text Reviews:

School Library Journal - 11/01/2014 PreS-Gr 2—Glamourpuss lives in the lap of luxury with doting "gazillionaires," Mr. and Mrs. Highhorsen. The regal white cat eats from a golden goblet at the dinner table and perches atop her pedestal on a tasseled pillow. A glimpse into her private chambers reveals a litter box embellished with gilt and draperies. This lifestyle can go to a girl's head, and this feline has a big one: "instead of saying 'me-ow' like an ordinary cat, she shortened it to just…'Me!'" Glamourpuss has mastered "haughty disdain" and the regal staircase descent. So when Bluebelle (a tacky, high-strung Chihuahua from Houston) comes for an extended visit, there is trouble in paradise. A joy to read aloud, this book features sophisticated language and plenty of space for the artist's visual antics. A master of the page turn, Small provides hilarious scenes of ostentatious settings and preening, as well as moving moments of self-doubt. Collage elements are introduced into his ink, watercolor, and pastel compositions to great comic effect; strategically placed mid-century fonts underscore the sweet message. People are viewed from the neck down, which mirrors an actual cat's perspective. While the dog's frenetic impersonations of Carmen Miranda and Scarlett O'Hara steal the show for a time, both characters face a crisis of character in this competitive environment and ultimately find a new way to relate to each other—as student and tutor. A blissful embrace will warm readers' hearts at the conclusion of this smart and funny tale.—Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Bulletin for the Center... - 03/01/2015 Glamourpuss the cat has it made as the overindulged pet of “gazillionaires” Mr. and Mrs. Highhorsen until the day Mr. Highhorsen’s sister, Eugenia, comes to visit from Texas, “and she had not come alone.” Bluebelle, Eugenia’s Chihuahua, steals the spotlight with over-the-top outfits and a variety of performance tricks, which Glamourpuss’ owners might actually admire more than the austere charms of their own cat. However, after Glamourpuss spies Bluebelle ripping her costumes and props to shreds in disgust, Glamourpuss obligingly instructs Bluebelle in the art of hauteur and ends up making a pal in the process. The text’s reveling in frothy excess is quite entertaining, as is the imperious tone of Weeks’ narration: “How could anyone think Bluebelle was more glamorous than she was? It was preposterous! Outrageous! Absurd!” While the ending is slightly pat, kids will easily relate to Glamourpuss’ feelings of inferiority and jealousy, if not her wealth. It’s Small’s illustrations (done in ink, watercolor, pastel, and collage), though, that, much like Bluebelle, steal the show here. With her plump but sinuous white form, Glamourpuss leisurely sashays her way across the pages, in contrast to Bluebelle’s frenetic posturing in her absurd costumes (some of which include hideous attached ringlets of hair); the pup’s Carmen-Miranda-inspired ensemble (complete with maracas) will certainly get kids giggling. Cat lovers and fans of the Fancy Nancy series may especially enjoy this feline perspective on the glamorous life. JH - Copyright 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

View MARC Record
Loading...



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