Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 10/01/2024 PreS-Gr 2—Kayra and her younger sister Ruhi are very close, but on this day, Kayra's time to wear a sari (a traditional dress of the South Asian subcontinent) has arrived as she celebrates her coming-of-age. Ruhi is sad she does not have one, but this celebration presents her with an opportunity to showcase her creativity and resilience. With vocabulary words, this picture book for kindergarten-age children is more than a dressed-up story; it highlights family cultural ties and sisterhood as Kayra helps her younger sister overcome challenges. Although set to a small, black font, the festive narrative is spread playfully around the vignette-like and full-page gouache, colored pencil, and tissue paper collage illustrations, created in a soft palette of colors. Syed offers detail-oriented art featuring home decor that attests to the cultural setting of this story. Back matter contains an author's note about the saris. VERDICT An engaging and culturally thoughtful picture book for libraries, especially for a family story time focusing on mirror-and-window encounters with heritage families.—Kathia Ibacache - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.