Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 08/01/2020 PreS-Gr 1—A child in a grey hooded onesie gazes out of the window at the starry night, then wanders out into the garden, in answer to the second-person lyrical questions that comprise the story. Each query begins with "If you were night" and offers a choice—"Would you stretch and rise and step out, too?"—as the illustrations depict which option the small protagonist decides to pursue in the nighttime garden, whether it is to "skitter like a startled mouse," or "join in the thrilling hunt" with an owl. After exploring the delights of the nocturnal world with its many sounds, smells, and creatures, the child returns home and dozes off in bed as the dawn lightens the sky beyond the window. The soothing text is quietly lovely, while Pousette's breathtaking cut-paper illustrations carry the story, their captivating interplay of softly illuminated landscapes in muted greens, pinks, and blues, and starkly dark sky perfectly capturing the magical atmosphere of a peaceful night. VERDICT A quirky but appealing story, suited for a one-on-one bedtime reading or inspiring imaginations in story hours.—Yelena Voysey, formerly at Pickering Educational Lib., Boston Univ. - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.