Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 09/01/2021 *Starred Review* Here’s a special story about a beautiful friendship between a girl and her teddy bear. While most stuffed animals skew small, this childhood chum is portrayed as huge, rather shy, lovable, and sweet. His expressive postures reveal a whole spectrum of emotions. In one comic scene, his round eyes and scrunched-up mouth show his distress when baby brother bites him on the head and sneezes snot onto his nose. Always patient, he can be a fancy lady at a tea party, a pirate, a ghost, or a brave protector when things get scary. But always, always, the minimal text emphasizes: “Bear is a bear full of love.” Observant children will notice that, in illustrations that mirror the cycle of life, the little girl grows into an adult; when she raises her own little girl, she resurrects her worn and dusty old friend from an old trunk in the attic. Now the circle is happily closed as the words and pictures repeat: “Bear is a soft, warm pillow. Bear is a bear faded and torn. Bear is a bear full of love.” Caldecott winner Santat’s digitally rendered illustrations in watercolor pencil explode with character and warmth. That big, playful body is begging to jump off the page for yet another hug, and enthusiastic children will want to share stories about their own favorite cuddles with this sure winner. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.