Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/01/2018 White and Wiseman have created an engaging set of vignettes that will appeal to young listeners in the process of learning new skills. That process can be exciting but may also cause anxiety, as change can be intimidating. Developing the ability to ride a two-wheel bike means giving up your trusty tricycle. Growing out of your beloved clothes can be upsetting but makes way for new favorites. Most experiences as children grow up are rewarding, such as making your own sandwich or learning to tie your shoes, but that doesn’t mean they don’t present challenges. Told in well-scanning, rhyming couplets, this book of firsts for the very young covers many experiences that mark the progression toward becoming independent. The charming cartoon illustrations appear on brightly colored pages and range from single to double-page spreads. Children will enjoy seeing what new skills the kids in the book learn, and perhaps will become inspired to attempt a new activity. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 05/01/2018 PreS-K—This ode to growing up follows a diverse group of preschoolers as they change and learn in the days leading up to their first day of school. One by one, the kids are shown learning new skills such as tying shoes, riding a two-wheel bike, or learning to swim. Others are shown experiencing firsts such as getting a haircut and flying on an airplane. The ending shows the individual kids coming together at the bus stop for their first day of school. The rhyming text lends itself to being read aloud. On a spread showing a girl trying on shoes with laces, the text reads, "Loop the laces. Knot the bows. So long, Velcro-covered toes." The brightly colored, naive-style illustrations add a cheerful positivity to the book. The expressions on the children's faces change from uncertainty, fear, or determination to proud smiles with their accomplishments. VERDICT While there is no shortage of first day of school books or books about childhood milestones, this title combines the topics in a simple, upbeat way. A good addition for larger collections.—Kimberly Tolson, Millis Public Library, MA - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.