Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 06/01/2021 How can a big brother keep everyone quiet so his little sister, hugging her yellow bunny and snoring contentedly, can keep sleeping? Page after page, he scolds each noisy family member: Pop Pop sneezes loudly; “Creak!” goes Mom’s footsteps; curly-headed sister Shae’s hair dryer screams “Whir! Whir!”; and little brother pounds “Bang Bang Bang!” on his toy truck. The dog howls “Oowoooo!” and even Mr. Young next door mows his lawn with a “Vroom! Vroom!” Uh-oh!—all big brother’s attempts to say “Shhhh!” fail, and the baby wakes with a loud, two-page “Waaaaaaaaaaa!” The solution? Brother soothes her cries with a book, and the whole Black family falls asleep, huddled closely together on the couch, while the baby squashed in the middle stays awake with her book. Argentinian illustrator Elissambura brings her unique style of collage and mixed media to every full-color page, depicting the frenetic gestures of each family member and creating tension in the burgeoning melodrama. Children won’t be able to resist replicating each noise as the situation escalates. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 07/01/2021 PreS-K—Naptime in a busy house, where the baby has finally fallen asleep, means staying quiet, and it's not easy with so many people around! Dante needs to fix the wheels on his toy truck, Shae needs to set her curls, and the neighbor, Mr. Young, needs to mow his lawn. Will the baby be able to maintain a quiet slumber? Or will the noises made by others create an awakening? For families with young children, "Shh, the baby's asleep!" is a common refrain, frequently repeated throughout this delightful book. Short, rhyming couplets present the story in a sing-song fashion that will please preschoolers, who will want to mimic the many sounds that emerge throughout the narrative. This book expertly captures the fine line between wanting to get things done while the baby sleeps but also ensuring a docile environment. Mixed media illustrations give the images a collage-style effect and include vivid jewel tones and myriad patterns throughout. Dynamic angles increase the feelings of uncertainty as each new sound threatens. The characters in this story are multigenerational, depicted with dark skin and curly, textured hair; each person has a unique appearance yet all easily comprise a loving family. VERDICT Accessible and engaging, this tale can be used in story-hour settings, and will find a home on most shelves.—Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L. - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.