Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 12/16/2024 "Up and down the crooked spine of the Andes... playing an epic game of paka paka con la papa, potato hide-and-seek," travels agronomist Alberto Salas (b. 1943), questing for "the potatoes of the Americas." In the face of rising temperatures, sprawling land development, and more, scientists study the "superpowers" of potatoes to create new varieties that will thrive in a changing world, and perhaps even on Mars. But these changes also threaten the wild potatoes, and "Alberto’s goal is to find them all... before they’re lost for good." When the plants flower, "ready or not, potatoes, here comes Alberto"-working off maps handmade and memorized, asking passersby for help, and noting his findings. In a warm palette, Caldecott Honoree Martinez-Neal’s lush mixed-media illustrations convey Salas’s dedication and the potatoes as jewels hiding in an ever-shifting landscape. Fajardo (Crack Goes the Cascar?n) smartly melds playful language with an urgent conservationist message, underlining the importance of Salas’s "serious game"- "a childhood game, helping to feed the world." Biographical information, creators’ notes, and a cultural dictionary conclude. Publishing in English and Spanish. Ages 4-8. Author’s agent: Nicole Geiger, Full Circle Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel, Full Circle Literary. (Mar.) - Copyright 2024

School Library Journal - 01/31/2025 Gr 2–5—With keen eyes, Alberto Salas searches the Andean landscape, collecting and cataloging varieties of potato. Fajardo's picture book biography capably foregrounds the science of plant collection and identification, specifically within the context of the planet's changing landscape and climate. In both editions, the titular phrase appears alongside additional Quechuan vocabulary, honoring the Indigenous inhabitants of Peru, while accenting the lyrical text with bursts of rhythm ideal for reading aloud: "Qacha, Qacha," "Kallpa, Kallpa." Martinez-Neal's distinctive style is textured by a variety of mediums, including paper collage, pastels, and acrylics, among others. The earth tones are enlivened by the depiction of Salas in yellow attire, a metaphorical beam of light spotlighting the humble papa. Perspective shifts capture peeks of the Peruvian landscape, while close ups allow for a peek at Salas's handiwork using a pickaxe to loosen soil or delicately pressing plant samples onto paper. The English edition includes Spanish throughout, and extensive back matter further illuminates Salas's work, the importance of plant diversity, and notes from the author and illustrator about their connection to the text. VERDICT Thematic connections to environmentalism and sustainability in our changing modern world, told through a Latinx lens, this is a highly recommended title for all nonfiction collections.—Jessica Agudelo - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.