Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 02/01/2020 Gr 1–3—How far can one paper lunch bag really go? A little boy and his father purchase a flashlight one day, bringing it home in a small paper bag. The boy then uses the bag to carry his lunch to school, redirect the beam of his flashlight, and transport all kinds of things. As time goes by, the boy gets older, and the trusty paper bag goes along with him. Their journey continues as the boy enters college, meets his future wife, and welcomes a new life into the world. All the while, this hearty paper bag withstands its myriad uses and observes this family as it develops around him, ultimately returning to the earth from whence it came. Though there are no words in this story, its message is deeply profound. Before the title page, readers encounter a prelude that details the making of a paper bag from its beginnings as a tree. Cleverly, the illustrations are entirely in black and white except for what will become the brown paper bag. Nostalgia and love abound in this story, bringing tears to the eyes of readers of all ages with each detailed image. At the end of the book, the author explains his own paper bag story and how it transformed into this richly emotional tale. VERDICT This is a compelling and emotionally resonant addition to Earth Day curricula, especially as an inspiration for reusing items as long as possible.—Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver Public Library - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 02/15/2020 A very special paper bag begins its life as a tall pine tree. Detailed ink-pen illustrations in mostly black and white tell a wordless story. Readers first see the tree, then the loggers, the paper mill, the paper-bag factory, and, finally, a father and his son carrying home a flashlight in a brown paper sack. Dad packs the boy’s lunch for school and paints a red heart on the bag. As the boy grows, pictures show him playing his guitar with his dog, camping, getting married (now there are two hearts!), and welcoming a new baby (three hearts). As the baby grows into a little boy, he collects items with grandpa (heart no. 4) to place inside his special taped and tattered bag. In the last image, the two plant a tree, using the paper bag to hold the roots and the sapling. This very sweet tale about sustainability celebrates recycling, conservation, and ecology. It’s just right for Earth Day projects and presents an engaging journey through the central character’s own life cycle. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.