Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 12/01/2022 Gr 2–4—Watching a thunderstorm roll into town holds a certain frisson of excitement. There's an edge of danger, measured against the joy of the pitter-patter on hot ground. Salas captures the anticipation and joy in a storm, contrasting the exuberance of children dancing in the rain against the darkest, scariest parts of the thunder. MacKay's dreamy illustrations, mostly in effective spreads, allow readers to fall into the world of this weather. The book is a perfect read-aloud; smart word choices make short rhymes ebb and flow with the storm: "Wind blows fiercely, howls and shrieks. The world groans slowly, shivers, creaks." The "zap" and "clap" of it all will hold the attention of very young children, but the delicious adjectives will contribute to everyone's vocabulary. Don't miss the thunder science section at the end—a gift. Salas writes with whimsy even when detailing scientific reactions. VERDICT A lovely, vocabulary-stretching, story-hour gift for a cozy day.—Cat McCarrey - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 01/01/2023 *Starred Review* It’s a sunny morning. From a cluster of houses on a hilltop, three children make their way downward, watching puffy, white clouds form above them and listening to the breeze that begins to rustle the leaves. As the clouds grow taller and darker, the wind picks up. Rain begins to fall, and the children run for home, while goats take shelter in a shed. “Thunder rumbles. / When it comes, / it rolls, / it stomps, / it rattles, / drums. // A crackling, grumbling / sound of doom, / then . . . // ZAP! / CLAP! / BOOM!” After the storm passes, all is calm and cleaner, fresher. The narrative evokes the sensory experiences of children observing a passing thunderstorm and uses imagery effectively to describe the beauty of nature in its wake: “Diamond drops / dress trees and vines. / Storm is over. // The world now shines.” The fluid, rhyming text offers some basic facts about thunderstorms; the well-researched back matter presents a more detailed account. Combining traditional techniques on paper, three-dimensional layering of those images, and digital elements, McKay’s illustrations beautifully capture both the changing weather phenomena and the children’s reactions. An informative read-aloud choice for home or classroom, this picture book offers several opportunities for kids to chime in on the repeated zaps, claps, and booms. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.