Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/01/2019 *Starred Review* Intimate and full of wonder, this book celebrates the babymoon experience, which is the adjustment and bonding period between parents and a newborn. It calls out the tentative and awkward (getting used to a new name, the unsureness of baby’s first sponge bath), focuses on the moments of rare rest (a daytime nap with dad; a slow, rocking walk in matching hats with mom), and highlights the tenderness and gentleness on display by an uncertain and lovestruck new father and mother, be it the curl of a tiny hand around a finger, or an infant’s downy head resting on a sturdy chest. Parents and children alike will be thrilled to recognize their experiences on the page as represented by this stunning biracial couple. Barrett’s lyrical poetry is enchanting, and Martinez-Neal’s (Alma and How She Got Her Name, 2018) artwork is as soft, round, and delicate as a newborn. Her representation of each precious moment is a croon-worthy, dimpled, tiny-fisted pleasure, and a close-up illustration of the yawning baby captures the book’s tone so beautifully it’s worthy of framing. A guaranteed home run read-aloud to share at baby story time, this book is also a perfect gift for expecting friends and an ideal addition for home and public libraries. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2019 Baby-Toddler–Arresting yet cozy illustrations and a spare, poetic text work together in this lovely book that will work well as a baby read-aloud, even if its content may speak more to the parent than the child. A loving couple bring home their new baby and spend their first day(s) together reveling in their love and their new life as they get to know each other. The lyrical text works perfectly in rhyme and meter to create a soothing image of the newness of a first-time family experience. The gentle cadence invites reading aloud at bedtime or in a storytime, but the real draw here are Martinez-Neal's illustrations. They are done in acrylic, colored pencil, and graphite and have a glowing softness to them. The mom is all rounded edges, with medium brown skin and lushly flowing dark hair. Dad and baby have a slightly lighter complexion and are equally appealing. The backgrounds are spare, keeping the focus on the family and their facial expressions, which glow with love. Each parent gets a page to themselves with baby, the mom's spread depicting her gazing lovingly down at her nursing infant. The book draws the viewer into this cozy world of newness and love. While the text is likely to speak more to the parents than the children, the flowing language will work well to soothe both baby and parent. VERDICT A great gift for new parents, this would make a lovely addition to any library's baby storytime shelves.—Amy Lilien-Harper, Wilton Library, CT - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.