Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 03/01/2019 *Starred Review* This oversize picture book is a complete package: a collection of clever, whimsical poems in a variety of styles and meters; striking, full-page illustrations that pop off of scenes set against starry black backgrounds; and, in addition to a glossary and list of resources, insightful notes on each poem that might provide additional science background, explanations of poetry conventions, or recaps of pertinent historic and pop-culture references. Selections usually concentrate on one entity, such as a planet or specific event (the 1957 Sputnik launch, the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteorite). Author Wolf effectively packs facts into every line using witty rhyme schemes and amusing scenarios. Venus, home of sulfuric-acid rain and never-ending darkness, invites readers to “Come Live with Me and Be My Lunch” (“I’m venomous Venus. I’ll love you to death!”) while lonesome, isolated Neptune twangs the 12-bar blues. In cheeky “Twinkle Twinkle Little Man,” a star sings, “Dear observant earthbound man / Let me tell you what I am.” The pen-and-pencil ink-washed collages capture the mood of each poem and add humor, whether portraying Mars as a Roman centurion or introducing Saturnista Fashionista. Some poems are designed for multiple voices, one is a round, and all beg to be read out loud. Visually compelling, this will capture and hold the attention of young stargazers. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2019 Gr 3–7-Beginning with the sun, Wolf utilizes poetry to introduce readers to the planets and other space-related subjects. Different styles of poetry are featured throughout the text. For example, the poem on the Sun is an example of a Shakespearean sonnet, or as it's called in the book, a "sunnet." Concrete poems are also included, as are poems for two voices. The color-coded poems spotlighting two voices would be especially useful in a classroom setting. The topics covered range from the silly to the serious, offering some introductory information on the specific subject while sustaining a playful tone. The poem on meteorites presents a somewhat lighthearted view of the meteorite that exploded in the city of Chelyabinsk, Russia in 2013. "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Man" shares information about the stars, intended to be sung to the familiar children's tune. Other subjects include black holes, Sputnik, Ivan Ivanovich, famous astronomers, animals in space, and more. The lively poems are accompanied by large cartoon drawings against the backdrop of a night sky. Following all of the poems is a section of "Notes on the Poems" that provides additional information on the topics as well as the type of poetry used. The book concludes with a glossary of selected space terms and a listing of internet resources. VERDICT These out-of-this-world poems are sure to engage and delight young readers.-Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.