Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 07/01/2014 “In the deepest, darkest hour of the night,” a button-eyed bunny imagines all sorts of horrible things that could be lurking in the dark, from gremlins to goblins. When she calls for Big Brown, the supportive bear encourages her to consider that there’s just as good a chance that there are silly things out there, such as “a delightful doggies’ Saturday-night unicycle convention.” As they go through the house finding that all’s well, Small Blue begins to imagine her own wonderful nocturnal possibilities, including stars “running a relay race around the moon.” The digital-painting-like art, featuring not-so-scary specters, is reminiscent of Kady MacDonald Denton’s Mouse and Bear books as well as Gabrielle Vincent’s Ernest and Celestine titles, with varying layouts placed on saturated purple backgrounds and contrasted with warm, buttery light. Davis provides a tender and comforting perspective on things that may or may not go bump in the night. - Copyright 2014 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 01/01/2015 PreS-Gr 2—An endearing stuffed rabbit wakes up "in the deepest, darkest hour of the night." Convinced that goblins and gremlins lurk in the darkness, Small Blue peers around her room with wide eyes and then shouts for her friend Big Brown. The furry bear arrives and calms her fears by asking, "How do you know it wasn't a delightful doggies' Saturday-night unicycle convention?" He suggests that they go for a cup of warm milk. When they enter dark hallway and then the kitchen, the bunny's anxiety returns, but again the bear proposes wacky but comforting alternatives. As they sit together, sipping from steaming mugs, Small Blue and Big Brown look at the night sky, pretending the stars are running a relay race around the moon. By adopting her wise friend's positive outlook and using her imagination, Small Blue is no longer afraid of the deepest, darkest hour of the night. Davis's digital paintings expressively capture Small Blue's confusing emotions particularly in an early spread showing her alone in her single bed set against a vast navy background. Equally evident in both the illustrations and the narrative is the sense of comfort and reassurance the large bear provides to his little friend. Serenity reigns in the penultimate spread, in which Small Blue and Big Brown snuggle, mugs in hand, as they watch the stars. Pair this story with Michel Gay's Zee Is Not Scared (Houghton, 2004).—Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston, MA - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.