Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 01/01/2023 When the doorbell rings, a little girl opens the door and finds a small blue umbrella with a note saying, “For you.” Though no rain is expected, when she goes outside with her mother, raindrops begin to fall. The umbrella keeps the girl dry, but Mom is getting wet, so she picks up her daughter and shelters under the blue umbrella. Magically, it grows a little bigger. Walking through a park, they invite others to join them. Each time, the umbrella enlarges, until it protects dozens of people who, by sharing food and stories, become friends. When the sun comes out, they don’t even notice, and in the future, they gather in the park, planting and tending a garden for all to share. While the idea of a magical umbrella isn’t new, it’s nicely carried out in Davison’s buoyant narrative, where the girl tells how her umbrella drew strangers together, creating a happy community of friends. Abe’s attractive digital art uses light, patterns, and color effectively, creating scenes with varied perspectives within this sweet picture book. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.