Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 12/15/2020 Everyone laughs and cheers when little Sam (“a newish baby”) learns to do a new thing, from waving her arms and clapping her hands to taking off her diaper. But she hasn’t said her first word yet. What will it be? Mama wants it to be “Mama” and so sings the word 63 times. Papa’s lengthy monologue likewise has but one word: “Papa.” Maybe it will be “Nana” or (for the next-door neighbor) “Mr. Theotopolous.” In fact, the grown-ups are so intent on their own notions that they don’t hear her say “Poop.” Even when she waves her arms, even when she claps her hands, they don’t hear—not, in fact, until she does her other trick. Everyone says it then, oh yes, which makes her laugh and cheer. Fine-lined cartoon illustrations featuring an expressive redhead sporting a stylish elastic headband and, often, not much else reflect the joyful tone of this nifty, high-spirited bit of toddler turnabout. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2021 Toddler-PreS—Sam is a baby who is learning to do all kinds of things, to the great delight of all the grown-ups in her life. Sam's mother, father, grandma, and neighbor all plot to get her to say their names as her first word. As the grown-ups muse over ways to get the baby to say their names, Sam gets more and more frustrated, until she finally figures out a way to get what she wants. Her actual first word, ignored by all the adults in funny scenes, is, "poop." Cartoony digital illustrations depict Sam's antics alongside the ever-faithful Farnsworth, the family dog, with speech bubbles for the characters that match their outfits. Sam joyfully gets what she wants, stripping off her clothes and diaper to get the attention of the adults in her life. Children will delight in the scatological humor and fast-paced plot, while grown-ups will appreciate the scenes-from-real-life quest. In Hatam's cheerful watercolor-like scenes, Sam and her family present as white, while neighbor Mr. Theotopoulos has dark skin. VERDICT An easy first purchase, where lowbrow humor meets screwball comedy, this sweet and silly read-aloud is perfect for story times.—Kelsey Socha, Westfield Athenaeum, Westfield, MA - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.