Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 01/01/2020 An olive-skinned mother and her blond child play a game where the baby imitates what the mama does, opening eyes wide or clapping, acting out a peekaboo or pat-a-cake. When the mother hears the musical summons of an (off-page) sound, she disappears from view, and in typical baby response, the little one begins to cry. The loving parent quickly returns, comforts the baby, and all is well. The genius of this simple book is the sophisticated layout and expressive watercolor illustrations. It begins and ends with the images in a left-to-right orientation, with the mother holding or looking at the baby. When they start to play, however, they are presented as mirrored images, positioned north to south, opposite each other. A thick blue line along the gutter anchors the pictures and emphasizes the change. As the two engage, audience participation seems inevitable. Simple clothing, the empty white background, and uncluttered pages give the book a universal quality, making it appealing to the youngest readers. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.