Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 07/01/2022 *Starred Review* In the thirteenth century, King Haakon of Norway gifted to King Henry III of England a white bear, which Henry added to his menagerie in the Tower of London. Few details outside of this are known, but Fletcher fills in the gaps with logical imaginings, easily distinguished as such, that center on the bear’s experiences, entreating readers to “Imagine / how the world / must have seemed to her.” Fletcher’s gentle storytelling, laced with empathy, takes on the feeling of a fairy tale, into which readers will slip as easily as a polar bear diving into water. Green’s marvelous folk-style illustrations take their cues from medieval artwork, framing scenes with thick, gold borders and flowery flourishes. Cheery blues and whites prevail in the earliest part of the story, during which the bear is still a cub in Norway’s snowy landscape, but a greenish tone washes over the illustrations when the trappers arrive to capture the bear and take her to England. King Henry’s order to let the bear swim and fish in the Thames each day is a slight consolation that, Fletcher supposes, gives the bear a taste of home. Notes from the creators follow the story, offering specifics on how each crafted their part of the book. It is a beautiful package that puts a beating heart into history. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.

Booklist - 07/01/2022 - Copyright 2022 Booklist.