Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/24/2023 K-Gr 3—It can feel nearly impossible for children to imagine the scale of everything outside themselves, but Henkes invites them to meditate on just that, and everything in the world, in this poetic new book. The text itself is quite simple ("there are big things and little things in the world"), but within it is a call to consider all things, no matter their size, and how they fit. A possible quibble for some young readers will be with the meaning of "world." Earth? The universe? Does it matter? As with other of his books, the illustrations (watercolor and brown ink) are a real standout. The seemingly simple images pair well with the text, giving readers a chance to pause, breathe, and consider. The illustrations are both colorful and muted, capturing attention while complementing the words. The meditative tone makes this suitable for bedtime; alternatively, it could be used in a story time with activities around size or observation. VERDICT A first purchase for every library, this book invites readers to consider the world around them in a new way.—Kadie Seitz - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 02/15/2023 Young children may feel like the world is full of things that are bigger and more important than they are. With an unerring understanding of the child’s perspective, Henkes presents simple comparisons, demonstrating how all the people and parts of the world are significant to the whole. Using brown ink and watercolor paint, the opening image shows a large tree and a small sprout. The text acknowledges there are “big things and little things in the world”: Little things such as animals, flowers, and pebbles, and a blank box to suggest the things so small they cannot be seen. Big things such as the sea, the sun, and the moon. Next, a series of children interacts with the world in natural ways. A child may pick up a pebble, a flower, or an animal while also being part of the bigger elements by holding some seawater, sitting in a sunbeam, or watching the moon. We all fit into the world; we all are somewhere “in-between.” Soothing and accepting, the book reassuringly demonstrates that the world is big enough for everyone and everything. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 03/24/2023 K-Gr 3—It can feel nearly impossible for children to imagine the scale of everything outside themselves, but Henkes invites them to meditate on just that, and everything in the world, in this poetic new book. The text itself is quite simple ("there are big things and little things in the world"), but within it is a call to consider all things, no matter their size, and how they fit. A possible quibble for some young readers will be with the meaning of "world." Earth? The universe? Does it matter? As with other of his books, the illustrations (watercolor and brown ink) are a real standout. The seemingly simple images pair well with the text, giving readers a chance to pause, breathe, and consider. The illustrations are both colorful and muted, capturing attention while complementing the words. The meditative tone makes this suitable for bedtime; alternatively, it could be used in a story time with activities around size or observation. VERDICT A first purchase for every library, this book invites readers to consider the world around them in a new way.—Kadie Seitz - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.