Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 03/15/2023 Musing on the question “What is an artist?” an unseen narrator tells of an artist who lives surrounded by nature, absorbing the world’s beauty and joy and then expressing it through her art. One day, the artist, portrayed in the illustrations as an amiable-looking tyrannosaurus, goes to a city filled with tall, featureless buildings. She paints a small picture of a lion. Intrigued by the artist, crowds of people gather and watch her create larger murals. While painting a giraffe, she is disheartened to see that she has colored outside the lines, but a little girl comforts her, saying, “Mistakes are how you learn.” The artist continues making art, and her heart is full. Realizing that making mistakes is part of the process could be a game-changer for the many kids who can't conquer their discouragement when their art falls short of their expectations. But beyond the message in the text, Vere visually communicates the artist’s happiness as she transforms the drab city with colorful murals and people appreciate her vision of the beautiful, joyful world. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.