Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/15/2023 Seemingly endless rain has made everything “dreary. Weary. Dim. Grim” for young and old. However, it’s time for a girl to walk her pup. Coming upon an intriguing curio shop, they venture inside and find an old, shabby, yellow umbrella. What could it be used for? Perhaps a coat? An upside-down, pup-size boat? Anyway, it’s free. But as they carry it home through the park, it falls apart, leaving pieces on the ground—“Crumble. Tumble. Trail of tatters.” Though the rain continues, the pair ventures out again and finds something unexpected: bright-yellow umbrellas have sprung up, flowerlike, in the wake of the previous day's walk. There are plenty to share, and as townspeople gather, yellow umbrellas in hand, the clouds depart and a smiling sun emerges, bringing joy and fun. Ferry and Lichtenheld (Stick and Stone, 2015) use succinct, descriptive rhymes and delightfully detailed watercolor-and-pencil illustrations to tell this whimsical, read-aloud-friendly story. Just about every kid has experienced disappointment on a rainy day, and this charming, playful story's conclusion will surely pique imaginations. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 05/05/2023 PreS-Gr 2—The exceptional duo behind Stick and Stone are back with another unmissable and upbeat collaboration that begins with seemingly endless rain. Brief, rhyming text—"Dim. Grim. Drip. Drop. Nonstop"—captures the gray and dispiriting mood. However, rain or shine, a young child must walk the dog. Donning their best rain gear, the duo venture outside and come across a free yellow umbrella while browsing in a shop. Their excitement is short-lived when the umbrella tears into pieces on the journey home. More rainy days follow, and they make a wonderful discovery: the pieces of yellow cloth have bloomed into brand new umbrellas! The child collects the umbrellas, distributing them throughout the community; this clears the clouds and spreads sunshine in the process. Ferry's masterful use of limited text expertly captures the emotions of the young girl, the atmosphere of the town, as well as the rhythm of the rain. Lichtenheld's expressive illustrations pair perfectly with the text, depicting the community in shades of gray before featuring pops of yellow. Pair with Amy June Bates's The Big Umbrella and Linda Ashman's When the Storm Comes for additional uplifting storm and community-centered titles. VERDICT Simple and superb—a must-have for any collection.—Olivia Gorecke - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.