Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 01/01/2023 *Starred Review* Rabbit, Duck, and Big Bear, three good friends, live in the forest. They go everywhere together, except the long, narrow, winding path. In summer, they prepare for a woodland party. In autumn, they play, tossing fallen leaves into the air. In winter, they ice-skate together. At the top of the long, winding path, Big Bear and Duck stop, but Rabbit (an inexperienced skater) quickly slides downhill and ends up beneath a glorious fir tree. When Big Bear and Duck arrive, Rabbit learns that each of the others has gone there before for solitary reflection. Initially feeling hurt, Rabbit stays beneath the tree and closes her eyes. Listening to the wind and breathing in the piney scent, she realizes that this experience is special. Now the three friends go almost everywhere together. Written with simplicity and subtlety, the text underscores the dual pleasures of being with friends and being alone. The expressive illustrations, created with pencil and acrylic paints, reflect the narrative’s tone while adding their own touches, such as the yellow yarn that Duck knits in the summer, which surely becomes the yellow scarf and mittens that Rabbit wears in the winter scenes. A charming picture book portraying the rewards of friendship and solitude. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 11/17/2023 K-Gr 2—Deep in the forest, there are three best friends: Rabbit, Duck, and Big Bear. They do everything together throughout the year, from throwing parties, to kicking leaves, to playing in the snow. However, they never go down the long, winding path together because they already have everything they need right where they are. But when Rabbit accidentally loses control and slides down that path, the three animals discover that even the best of friends can enjoy spending time alone, as well. This thoughtful picture book introduces readers to three seemingly inseparable companions, all of whom are approachable and cheerful in their demeanor. The illustrations are the focus of the story; each one covers the majority of the page, frequently depicting the protagonists in moments of action and activity. Young readers will be especially drawn to the images as the story is being read aloud to them thanks to their use of color, texture, and movement. Beside the pictures are blocks of text in small font that are primarily narrative in style, shifting from recounting what a character once said to having that creature speak directly later in the book. This choice gives the story a sense of both past and present as the characters discover truths about themselves and each other. VERDICT This thoughtful picture book is a good choice for investigating the complex balance of friendship and independence.—Mary R. Lanni - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.