Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 11/15/2019 In this sequel to Good Night, Sleep Tight (2013), Skinny Doug takes his young friends Bonnie and Ben out for a walk. He challenges them to recall nursery rhymes as they stroll along and rejoices every time they do. Seeing a hill, they recite “Jack and Jill,” while in boxed pictures, the characters act out the story. Skinny Doug says, “I love it, I love it! / Well done, and hurrah! / Can you tell me another? / How clever you are!” Each time the children recite another, Doug responds with the same refrain, and more characters join their procession until they reach the children’s home in time for bed. Never one to underestimate the power of nursery rhymes, Fox places the traditional verses within a contemporary story written in rhymed couplets. The classics are showcased while the contemporary story celebrates them within a playful context. The illustrations feature simple, pleasing ink drawings, brightened with cheerful watercolors. Fun for reading aloud to kids who know Mother Goose and those who haven't yet had the pleasure. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 12/01/2019 PreS-K—Siblings Bonnie and Ben love to rhyme. Out on a walk with friend "Skinny Doug," each thing they encounter inspires a new nursery rhyme. The characters from that rhyme then follow the trio into the next watercolor-and-ink spread. Doug encourages them to rhyme on with a repetitive refrain and soon a long line of characters trails behind them. After seeing roses brings on a game of Ring Around the Rosie, Bonnie and Ben rhyme their way home and into bed. Young readers who know their rhymes will have fun using the clues to guess what nursery rhyme comes next. Horacek has illustrated Fox's work before. Her engaging ink-and-watercolor cartoon rendition of Little Bo Peep's sheep might look a little familiar—especially the green one! VERDICT Lighthearted fun for nursery rhyme–themed storytimes and one-on-one sharing.—Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.