Bound To Stay Bound

Publishers Weekly - 12/15/2025 Sumptuously patterned artwork and reiterative lines capture a day’s contrasting rhythms in this arresting tale about an outing that doesn’t go according to plan. "Hurry, hurry," urges an initial refrain as two figures, "jackets zipped," rush out to catch a train and get to a city park-only to discover that they’ve missed the scheduled event. The youth’s disappointment is palpable, but as the two, who read as Black, begin to embrace a free day, initially frenzied verse lightly lengthens, its mood turning joyful and contented. "We’ll head back home,/ but while we’re here," they repeat, pausing to savor their surroundings: peering underneath a bridge, watching pond ducklings, walking "until the trail runs out," perching beneath a tree, and more. Vibrant quilt-like collages by Archer (Wind Watchers) intricately mix acrylic inks, tissue paper, handmade stamped papers, and more to create truly absorbing environments. Ending scenes of the child and caregiver luxuriating alongside a stream and beneath the shade of tree branches aptly convey the closing calm of carefully paced narration from Wynter (So Many Years: A Juneteenth Story). It’s a powerful view of the ease that can emerge from unstructured time. Ages 4-8. (Mar.) - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly used with permission.

School Library Journal - 02/01/2026 PreS-Gr 3—This is the story of a young Black girl and her Black mother, who are both in a rush. They race through the city, down to the subway, out into the park only to find disappointment and then something much better once they slow down. The illustrations, done in acrylic inks, tissue-paper layering, stamped papers, and more, create colorful, energetic, and arresting moments in the bustle of the city as well as in the park. The poetic and spare text captures the sense of hurriedness and the disappointment, when the pair realize they are a day late for the birthday party. What follows is the gift of the day where they have "nowhere to be" save for the chance to enjoy time to be together. VERDICT Gorgeous illustrations highlight the frenetic pace of life often faced by children, here paired closely with the gift of moments of calm and connectedness that might surprise anyone on a crammed day. Highly recommended.—John Scott - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 01/01/2026 *Starred Review* Gorgeous collage illustrations composed of meticulously cut and layered bits of paper adorn the pages of this story about a mother and daughter in a rush to get out the door. Dressed in party outfits and clutching a wrapped present, the pair finally make it out the door and catch the train to get to the park, only for Mama to realize she had the wrong date and they’re an entire day late for a birthday party. It’s disappointing, of course, but now they’re in the park on a beautiful day with no agenda—what could be better? Now they can linger in the places they had to rush past before and explore together since they “have nowhere to be.” Wynter’s quiet text uses repeated phrases (“hurry, hurry” and “we’ll head back home, but while we’re here”) to highlight the shift in mood, while Archer’s stunning artwork lovingly depicts the park’s rolling hills, flowering trees, and winding paths, with fluffy clouds reflected in a still pond and rippling water flowing around rocks, using collage to thrilling effect and cultivating dynamic texture and motion from many tiny pieces of thoughtfully selected paper. Pair with Oge Mora’s Saturday (2019) or Nelly Buchet’s Big Sister, Long Coat (2024) for a storytime about making the most of an unfortunate situation. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.