Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 12/15/2019 “This is my ocean,” says a girl, as she and her mother walk down to the beach. Throughout the day, she shares her observations in brief sentences that include one or two descriptors, often setting up contrasts that are clarified in the artwork. Illustrating “My ocean is shallow,” a picture shows seabirds walking through waves retreating along the strand, while in “My ocean is deep,” the child leaps from a dock into the water. Her ocean is also dry (driftwood) and wet (splashes). Its colors include vibrant pink (starfish), rusted orange (anchor), and polished green (sea glass), but “mostly it’s blue.” From her sense of connection to her eagerness to share what she loves, the girl’s narrative creates an inviting portrayal of the seashore. In the pictures, she uses crutches when walking, but she manages without one or both when she’s skipping stones or playing in the sand. The illustrations, created using cut-paper collage, watercolors, acrylics, pencil crayons, and digital assembly, capture the beach experience with clarity. An enjoyable companion book to My Forest Is Green (2019). - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 02/01/2020 K-Gr 2—From moment to moment, the ocean is constantly changing and shifting; it is at once recognizable and never the same. One sunny morning, a little girl and her mother make their way down the boardwalk to spend the day at the beach. As the day progresses, the mother and daughter explore the many sensations at the seashore: from textured sand and slimy seaweed to the unique smells and sounds. After a long day of discovery, it is time to go home, leaving them to wonder what the ocean will be like tomorrow. This primarily visual story is told with the help of only a few sentences, presented in a lyrical style. Each image resonates with many sensory experiences. The illustrations are a combination of collage style and visible brush strokes, representing the textures of the ocean. The little girl is shown walking with crutches in several of the images. VERDICT Ocean lovers of all ages will appreciate the vivid colors and beautiful text that recounts a lovely and relaxing day by the sea.—Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver Public Library - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.