Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 01/01/2017 What’s that sound underground? In this thoughtful collection, it can be anything from ants, to a basement, to the subway, to the roots of a tree, and anything in between. As with Yolen’s other poetry offerings, readers are meant to take their time with these poems, lest they miss something, such as the vivid description of the subway that makes it seem like an animal traversing the city, or the wordplay in a poem about buried treasure. On the last page are Yolen’s notes on each poem, including both facts and some personal insight. Masse’s drawings of a boy and girl tell stories on their own, which nicely complement the verses. The warm, naturalistic illustrations of underground scenes and cutaways often contain an element of charming whimsy, such as when a family of bunnies falls asleep in a burrow cuddled up, or when a red-nosed mole curiously digs along. Great for either a school or public library, this collection illuminates the rich world of activity that goes on beneath our feet. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 02/01/2017 K-Gr 3—"Beneath our feet,/a world apart,/is found our Earth's fast-beating heart./It keeps us living,/soil and root,/while up above/we eat the fruit." Twenty-one pithy poems focus on the world below in this well-designed volume. Bookended by two insightful poems and expanding on the word under (underground, understand, understood), all the verse in between explores under the house, the city, and the ground. Through a variety of poetic forms, readers will meet ants, worms, and moles; uncover buried history, cities, and treasure; and brush up on the science of magma, plate tectonics, and earthquakes. The text embodies wonder and factual information, piquing readers' interest along the way. The detailed illustrations, done in mixed media, tie the book together and provide little Easter eggs for kids to notice on every page. Back matter includes "Notes on the Poems: Both Scientific and Personal," which will help to engage readers with the topic in a more meaningful way. VERDICT For scientists and daydreamers, this slim volume of poetry approaches the world from a variety of thought-provoking perspectives in an attractive and engaging package. A fine addition to STEM-related poetry collections.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.