Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 09/01/2017 *Starred Review* This beautifully rendered picture book is a testimonial to the creative genius of Frank Lloyd Wright and his Fallingwater, an amazing structure built directly over a waterfall. Readers are pulled in immediately by the traditional “once upon a time” opening, and the story is told in present tense as Wright takes months dreaming, imagining, and finally realizing his daring, unique project: “A house like no other, where sun can shine, where balconies fly, where falling water is heard in every room.” The meticulously accurate illustrations show developing events in muted earth tones that mirror the colors of the interior and exterior of the house, while Wright’s evolving architectural musings appear as sepia-colored backgrounds. Other visual aspects, like passing clouds mimicking the depiction of the water flowing over the waterfall, or Wright’s absorption in a Japanese print as he first considers the commission, add nuance. The text effortlessly provides insights into Wright’s thinking, his choice of materials, and how his final results reflect their counterparts in nature. Like Fallingwater, a home that breathtakingly blends innovative architecture and its natural surroundings, this book seamlessly blends together a good story, lyrical language, and deft, supporting artwork. This affectionate tribute should appeal to a very wide audience. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 09/01/2017 Gr 2–5—Fallingwater, one of the most famous houses ever built, sits atop a waterfall in southwestern Pennsylvania. It's a house that fits in perfectly with its surroundings—the trees, the stream, the rocks, and the waterfall. Inside the rooms, visitors can hear the water falling and see the sun shining in. But how did such a house take shape? That is the story Harshman and Smucker tell. Beginning with Edgar Kaufman's invitation to architect Frank Lloyd Wright to build him a home in this rural setting, the book follows Wright as he walks around the property again and again, thinks about the project for nine months, and finally just two hours before Kaufman visits him to see the plans for the house, puts pencil to paper. Descriptive, lyrical text mirrors the subject matter:"His dreams have made him ready. He sees every boulder, tree, and waterfall. He sees the house that will live among them." Pham's illustrations, done mainly in blues and browns, detail the architectural process as it grows from idea to reality. VERDICT Frank Lloyd Wright's genius is revealed for sophisticated picture book readers.—Myra Zarnowski, City University of New York - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.