Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/15/2021 Astrid, a small girl with brown skin and black curly hair, plans to become an astronaut, and she spends her days preparing for her chosen career. She attempts to build a rocket ship, make food suitable for space, create microgravity by floating in her bathtub, and count as many stars as possible while her father watches over her (and cleans up her messes). One night, she slips into a dream about visiting two planets: the first is inhabited by huge creatures, and the other is populated by tiny beings. All of the aliens are interested in becoming astronauts, and though Astrid tries to support them in their efforts, the size differences make it too difficult for her to be of much assistance. When she wakes, she’s still determined to become a space traveler, but she realizes she’ll need her father’s help. Bold, brightly colored digital illustrations cover the pages from margin to margin and are filled with details of home and outer space. Brief information about space travel is given at the book’s conclusion. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 03/01/2021 PreS-Gr 1—Though Astrid aspires to be an astronaut, whenever she tries to build a spaceship, make astronaut food, or float in the bathtub as though she's in space, the results are disastrous. When she attempts to count the stars, she runs out of numbers. Frustrated, she falls asleep and in her dreams her wish comes true. She goes on a Gulliver-esque journey (complete with an aerial illustration of Astrid in a supine position surrounded by small creatures), traveling to the planets of "the bigs" and "the littles," but still cannot successfully complete her astronaut tasks. Upon waking, she complains to her dad, the only parent present in the story. He then helps her build, cook, float, and count, and like Goldilocks, she finds that her own planet is "just right." The digital illustrations are detailed and animated. The scenes in space are tinted with cool blue tones. Astrid and her dad have brown skin and black hair. The premise of the book, including the protagonist's name, brings to mind Ken Wilson-Max's Astro Girl. However, unlike the earlier book, the message of this book is unclear. The Goldilocks theme is undeveloped, and the repetition of certain words feels uninspired. Back matter extrapolates on space shuttles, space food, and gravity in an effort to connect Astrid's play with real space exploration. VERDICT Despite the lack of clear message, this bright and cheery book fills a hole in the shelves for budding astronauts and space enthusiasts.—Clara Hendricks, Cambridge P.L., MA - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.