Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 12/01/2019 Hosea Missouri Taylor, Jr., a Rochester, NY, resident and saxophone player, is brought to life by Blasi and Evans through a fictionalized example of his openhearted giving. A day in the life of the street musician relates the musical legacy he bestowed upon his community. One morning, Hosea packs up his instrument and heads toward the bus, encountering his neighbors, a father and son, raking leaves. The boy pretends his rake handle is a trumpet and “plays” a few notes as Hosea encourages him: “Keep practicin’, my man!” Hosea continues to the public market where he plays his saxophone for a group of people with the thought that “maybe—just maybe—he would earn enough today.” Readers are left to wonder what he plans to use the money for and are rewarded at the story’s end by the man’s thoughtfulness. Large, pastel illustrations fill the pages and the text changes font size and color throughout, adding movement to the tale. Though Hosea passed away in 2016, his gift of music lives on in the people he inspired. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 01/01/2020 PreS-Gr 2—Hosea is a storyteller who can spin a yarn without words through music. He prepares his saxophone for a long day at the public market and thinks, "On a day like this…I could play forever." Shoppers listen and dance to his smoky tunes, notes, and riffs. The crowds come and go, Hosea plays on. The clouds darken and rain falls, Hosea plays on. By the end of the day he has enough money to buy an instrument for the kid next door and offers him music lessons so together, they can play on. Blasi's picture book debut features a black Rochester, NY musician whose musical ministry was to enrich his community with music. Her thoughtful impressions continue in the author's notes where readers further learn of Hosea's talents and community activism. Blasi skillfully weaves dialogue, nature sounds, and city noise throughout the musical narrative. Evans whimsically illustrates these textual elements to give them shape and movement. He creates a bluesy rhythm with dynamic cobalt lines, pastel washes, and crisp textured leaves that twirl and whirl within the book to tie Hosea's day together. VERDICT A touching tribute that serves as a reminder to listen to the people, music, and sounds that surround us.—Rita Christensen, Orem Public Library, UT - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.